38 INSECTIVORA. 



Sorex rusticus. 



Sorex nisticus, Jenyns, Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. i. & vol. vii. ; De Selvs 

 LoNGCHAMPS, Micromm. p. 40. 



This sjoecies has been separated from the preceding by the 

 Rev. L. Jenyns by the following distinctive characters : — The 

 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intermediate teeth (lateral incisors) 

 diminish more gradually and regularly ; the 5th is larger 

 in proportion to the others, and more \dsible externally ; 

 the tail is thick, cylindiical throughout, well clothed with 

 haii^s, wliich, in the young animal, stand out entirely from 

 the tail, and never become adpressed at any age ; the ex- 

 tremity of the tail is not narrowed, but ends abruptly, and 

 is longer than in Sorex tetragonurus, although the whole 

 animal is smaller ; the feet are more slender and weaker ; 

 the space between the eyes half as long as that between the 

 eyes and the end of the snout, w^hereas in the preceding 

 species it equals three-fourths of that space ; the body above 

 is redder, and beneath T\dth more of a yellowish tinge. 



Entire length, from 3 inches 4-^ lines to 4 inches ; body 

 from 2 inches 1 line to 2 inches 6 lines ; tail, from 1 inch 

 31 lines to 1 inch 6 lines. 



Its habits are probably identical Avith those of the last 

 species. 



This is the commonest species of England next to S. 

 tetragonurus, and is by far the most common species in 

 Ireland. It does not appear to have been hitherto observed 

 elsewhere than in Britain. 



Sorex pygmaeus. 



Sorex pygTYKSus, De Selys, Micromm. ; Sciiinz, Em'op. Faun. vol. i. 

 p. 27 ; Keys. u. Blas. Wu-belth. Europ. 



Desceiption. — About half the size of S, araneus. Tail 

 rather shorter than the body, covered with hair of equal 



