32 



IXSECTIVORA 



compressed latei'all\', the length of its base equal to that of base 

 of anterior cusp ; colour brown or blackish, the underparts 

 never as dark as back (usually much lighter), and the sides often 

 contrasted with both. 



External characters. — Fur moderately dense, its depth at 

 middle of back about -i mm. in summer, 8 mm. in winter, its 

 texture not specially modified ; no elongated hairs on Hanks and 

 across rump. Eyes small and inconspicuous ; ears nearly 

 concealed in the fur. Feet not peculiar in form, thinly clothed 

 with very fine hairs on dorsal sui-face ; fore foot with third and 

 fourth digits sub-equal and longest, fifth extending just beyond 

 base of fourth, first barely reaching base of second, the claws 

 small but well developed ; palm so conspicuously rugose reticulate 

 that tubercles are not very distinct ; tubercles 6, sub-equal, the 

 three at bases of main digits well-defined, that at base of thumb 

 sometimes confluent with that at inner side of wrist (so that the 

 number is ajjparently reduced to 5), the two wrist-pads separated 

 from each other in median line by a noticeable space ; extreme 

 posterior edge of palm covered with ordinary integument. Hind 

 foot with third and fourth digits sub-equal and longest, second 

 slightly shorter, fifth reaching base of fourth, and first extending 

 to base of fifth ; surface of sole as in palm, but tubercles better 

 defined, four at bases of digits and two situated more posteriorly, 

 all six about equal in size ; sole finely haired fi-om hinder 

 tubercles to heel, the middle of which is bare ; claws like those 

 of fore-foot. Tail terete or somewhat 4-sided, rather more than 

 half as long as head and body, its hairs minute, ratlier closely 

 appressed, and nearly concealing the annulation ; pencil usually 

 well developed, 4-6 mm. in length, but occasionallj^ in aged 

 individuals much reduced or absent, together with the rest of 

 the hairy covering of the tail. Caudal annulations rather 

 indistinct, about 24 to the centimeter at middle. jNIammfe : 

 / 3-3 = 6. 



Colour. — Dorsal area, extending from base of tail to crown 

 cheeks and muzzle, brown, the exact shade varying much both 

 seasonally, racially and individually, but the normal extremes 

 falling between hair-brown or light bister and a very dark, 

 blackish seal-brown. Sides wood-brown, usually forming an 

 evident contrast with dorsal area, though this contrast is 

 occasionally inconspicuous in dull light specimens in summer 

 coat, or wholly obliterated in the general darkening of entire 

 animal in S. araneus sanfonus. Underparts smoky grey washed 

 with wood-brown, or occasionally sufiused with slaty (particularly 

 in the dark »S'. a. santonus). Between colour of back and sides 

 there is usually an evident line of demarcation : between sides and 

 belly the contrast is less marked and the transition less abrupt. 

 Feet a dull indefinite light brown, often with a faint dark shade 

 along outer edge. Tail dark brown above and at tip, light brown 

 below, especially near base, sometimes bicolor throughout. 



