SORECIDiE. 19 



backwards (in repose) upon tlie dorsal surface of the metacarpal bone. 

 Tibia very long and straight ; fibula very slender ; feet long and 

 slender, the first toe equal to the middle toe in length. Wing mem- 

 brane from the lower third of the tibia. Caleaueum feeble ; interfe- 

 moral membrane shorty perforated close to its concave free margin by the 

 long slender tail, which is produced beyond it to a distance equal to the 

 length of the forearm. Face almost naked ; margin of the upper lip 

 fringed with fine haii'S, which are dense on the truncated extremity of 

 the muzzle. Fur on the back short and strictly limited to it. A consi- 

 derable portion of the posterior part of the back naked. The skin of 

 this part and of the wings near the body is covered with longitudinal 

 and transverse wrinkles. The single upper premolar exceeds the 

 molars in vertical extent, with a second vertical basal cusp on its outer 

 and anterior side. Last molar less than half the ante-penultimate molar. 



LengfJo. — Head and body S'O", tail 2"35", tail free from membrane, 

 1-6.5', forearm 2-6". 



Hab. — Sind and the Indian Peninsula generally ; N. W. P., South 

 India, Bengal, Kashmir, also Africa and Asia Minor. 



ORDER— mSECTIVORA. 



Incisor teeth variable in number, and almost always diflferent in the 

 two jaws. No distinct canines in most; molars with acuminated 

 tubercles. Feet usually pentadactylous, limbs short. Tail variously 

 developed. Skull feeble and elongate, the bones of the face and jaws 

 much produced, the latter weak. There are usually eight teeth in 

 front of each jaw. The orbit and temporal fossas confounded in one 

 cavity, except in Tupaia. Molar teeth studded with sharp cusps or 

 tubercles. Stomach simple, except in Tupaia. No caecum. Mamma3 

 ventral, generally numerous. The testes pass periodically from the 

 abdomen into a temporary scrotum. Nocturnal animals, feeding chiefly 

 on insects. They are divided into four families, TalpidjB or Moles, 

 Sorecidae or Shrews, Eriuaceidaj or Hedgehogs, and Tupaida3 or Tree 

 Shrews. Sorecidas and Erinaceidge only are represented in Sind. 



Family, SORECID/E,— Shrews. 



Body covered with soft hair. Byes small, distinct, external ears in 

 most generally small. Muzzle elongated. Middle incisors of upper jaw 

 long and hooked, the lower ones slanting and lengthened. Three 

 cuspidated molars in each jaw; a tuberculous tooth in the upper jaw. 

 Snout lengthened, pointed and mobile. In some a gland under the 

 skin which secretes a fluid of a musky odour. Habits nocturnal. 



Sorex, Linn. ; Pachyura, De S. Longcham.ps ; Crocidura, Wagner. 



Upper front teeth large and strongly hooked, longer than their 

 posterior spur ; inferior incisors entire or rarely a trace of a serrated 

 upper edge. Following those in the upper jaw are four teeth anterior 

 to the scissor tooth, the first large, next two much smaller, the third 



