46 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
Measurements of skins. 
| 
| Point of nose to— Tail to end of— 
Current Locality. ted ae ——we : ] <4 ‘Hand. | Foot. | Nature of 
number. ees Eye. | Ear. Occip. | Root of | Verteb. | Hairs. | | specimen. 
tail. 
619 _ | Society Hill, S. C. %.-|-.--|_---—-_. el ee 71 82 34 A6 | Skinvjo_e- 
627 |t. Louis, Mo.® ....- Widiglseses see Psa 92 2.75 71 75 $1 | 46.-\°{dp= eee 
625 eee == 00. ese ete eet | ean eee 83 2. 50 75 83 32 46) | -S2ae—eeee 
| } 
2153 | Union county, Mo..-- a 43° |) (68 90 2.50 85 90 | 35 | 45 | Alcohol... 
| | } 
* The first four measurements of 628 and 627 were taken before the animals were skinned. 
Measurements of skulls. 
1809 | 1778 | 1779 
Ean TRE ee 9 tao ac Ss, capt aaa. ae eee 7 | .79 
GEE sat WPM a cat ale te el | .39 -41 
beast Width\—--— ~=2~\s-ermes eet = ee Se ei ere te pee | es 
Lengthiof palate/=—-* -s----- = ee .33 . 33 - 36 
Nidih On Nipper jaw eee = = eee eee ae eee ee 24 25 25 
This species differs from B. brevicauda in the considerably smaller size, smaller hands, 
longer tail, the colors not very dissimilar ; with somewhat the proportions of B. talpoides, the 
size is much less; the third and fourth lateral teeth larger in proportion to the first and second, 
&c. The feet are considerably smaller in proportion. 
The specimens as above given agree in the main very well with each other, and as indicating 
a southern species, smaller than B. talpoides or brevicauda. I have referred them to the Sorex 
carolinensis of Bachman. I am by no means clear, however, that the particular measurements 
cited by him do not belong really to a specimen of B. talpoides, but he undoubtedly was 
equates with a species, smaller than the latter. In assigning a dentition of 34 teeth, or of 
incisors = = premolars 3, molars =~, or one more molar on either side of the upper jaw than I 
have given, he in all probability was in error, as in no carefully examined skull of any species 
of shrew, from any part of the world, have the ieeth ever exceeded 32. Deksy goes beyond 
even Bachman, in counting 36 teeth, or incisisors == +> premolars and molars “—" == = , thus commit- 
ting a still greater error. 
It is probable that the teeth of the skulls examined by Bachman and Dekay were either badly 
cleaned, or else still in the skin, and seen so imperfectly that two cusps of the same molars were 
counted as different teeth. 
This character of 34 teeth, combined with the statement of an entire absence of ear, have 
caused the erection of several genera to accommodate the Sorex carolinensis of Bachman.’ Thus, 
Pomel has Cryptotis, and Wagner, Anotus ; both, however, strictly synonymous with Blarina 
and Brachysorex. 
