MAMMALS—SORICINAE—BLARINA BREVICAUDA. 43 
much mutilated for accurate description. I can only add, that the longest hairs on the back 
‘measure about 0.35 of an inch. 
The skull of this species is very large and massive, with little constriction in the middle por- 
tfon. The occipital plane is more vertical than in B. talpoides. The anterior upper incisors are 
very massive, and there is only a slight indication of any basal lobe on the cutting edge. The 
second premolar is nearly twice as large as the first; the third and fourth abruptly much 
smaller, and nearly equal. Both together do not occupy as much space in the outline of the 
jaw as the one anterior to them. The fifth premolar is only visible from inside. 
In order to illustrate the comparative dimensions of this species, I have given the same table 
the measurements of one of the largest specimens of S. talpoides I have yet seen, (No. 2078 9.) 
This, when skinned, could easily be made to measure four inches and over, from nose to root of 
tail. 
Dimensions. 
2151. | 1065. | 2078. || 2151. | 1065. | 2078. 
| | 
INGEGIIONGY Co =neset weet neemoete | Abba) et oe 340) ,||\ hon gest claw-—-'- saceeeciaamacmee ae milion a= sae -10 
Bprottuteat mses sas cos o5 sees Biss oho ee g85n |eEindtootessa= sates tee eae +65) .60| 63 
Nore'te occiput: 36 229s snel lo S52 8c lL oD. ae | 1 06i¢||sHongestclaw—22S2.4533222 2 m0) (ae oee .6 
Nose to base of tail .-.-.-------2----|------ | 4.25 | 3.65 || Length of skull -..-..-.-..--.-- 28s Mes 88 
Tail to end of vertebre_--..----..--.- | L200) |ESs ee -90 I Greatest *width= 252sss 2! ce S2Sess2 | on ; Seas - 46 
LER ee CORRE Soe ae Ee hele 2b hte bee ui Widthtofupperjawiss224s- 2222S 2- lowrereay He) foi ai ~ 29 
132 | = ee - 50 ~ 451} 38-01) (hength of, palates ---==- 2S SS=eZS- -43 | -43 - 35 
| | 
I present here the description of a shrew from northern Wisconsin, which differs in some 
respects from S. talpoides, and may be referred to S. brevicaudus. 
Brachysorex brevicaudus.—Size large. Fur long, (over 2} lines,) very soft and lustrous, lying flat to the body. Hand unusu- 
ally large, measuring almost five lines ; foot six and a half; tail about two-thirds the length of head. 
_ Color, dark plumbeous, with a blackish gloss above, having sometimes a faint purplish reflection. No rusty brown tips or 
hoariness visible in the fur. Head and body, 33 inches; tail to end of hairs, 10 lines. 
No. 708.—Body stout; nose acute, but broad ; whiskers rather numerous, long, and whitish ; 
ears small, with the concha but little developed, lapping over the meatus, concealed by the fur. 
Fur soft and silky, longest hairs about 24 lines. Tail very short, about two-thirds the length 
of the head ; quadrangular in the dried specimens, and coated with rather long hairs, which 
form a pencil at the end. Feet more than usually large and stout, especially the anterior ones. 
These are broader, and have longer claws than the hind ones. The soles are naked, except at 
the heel; the first claw reaches the penultimate articulation of the second toe; the fifth claw 
nearly to the base of the fourth. The hand is contained only about one and a third times in the 
foot. 
_ The prevailing color is a blackish plumbeous on the back and sides, dark plumbeous beneath ; 
much the same everywhere, except a darker gloss above. There is sometimes a faint purplish 
gloss on the fur above. There is not the slightest trace of dull rusty brown. The hairs are 
dark plumbeous from their roots. The tail is everywhere like the back. 
