46 . BULLETIN NO. VIL. 
of the existence of more than a single species of Blarina It 
seems, on the other hand, very probable that there is but one 
somewhat variable species, extending from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific, and from Mexico to northern Canada and Behring’s 
straits. This species is moderately abundant about Minneapolis. 
The following measurements may be taken as indicating the 
average size : Body and head, 3.50; tail, .85—1.00; hind foot, — 
.64; fore foot, .44. A male, somewhat larger, had a tail meas- 
uring 1.08; the hind foot, .65 ; nose to eye, .50; nose to tip of ~ | 
incisors, .380. 
The short-tailed shrews are more mole-like in appearance 
than the smaller species, both on account of their low form and 
short tail, and the dark mole-like pelage. The color is dark 
plumbeous above, with a somewhat glossy reflection. The hairs 
are fine. The lower parts are lighter and with rusty or rufous 
gloss. The whiskers are numerous, fine and light-colored. 
The head is rather stout and short, and in this respect diifers 
to a marked degree from the smaller shrews. The head is 
also much depressed, and the eyes lie nearly half way between 
the muzzle and the back of the head. The muzzle is not nearly 
as long as in Sorex, and is truncated and naked with the nostrils 
opening onthesides. The ear is not seen in life, although it is 
large, because the meatus is closed by the auricle. The anti- 
tragus and antihelix are well developed and valvular. The 
palm has five callosities, the sole six. The tail is constricted 
at the base, and expands suddenly, after which it is of uniform 
size until near the end; it is but moderately hairy, although 
bearing a considerable pencil at the tip. The upper surface of 
the feet is minutely hairy. ‘The third toe is longest. 
It would perhaps be expected that the size of southern speci- 
mens would be less than those farther north, and this may 
explain ‘‘ B. carolinensis” of authors. in the specific characters 
of which the only tangible point seems to be the inferior size. 
B. angusticeps must be regarded, until farther information is 
obtained, as an illustration of an extreme instance of individual 
variation, such as may be occasionally met with in any species. 
The specimen figured above was obtained in Ohio, March 4th, 
and is one of several seen at about the same time. The meas- 
urements are as follows: 
Length of body, 3.1; tail, 0.9; total, 4.0 ; hind foot, 0.48 ; fore 
foot, 0.89; nose to eye, 0.41; nose to ear, 0.80; vibrissze, 0.70. 
Color uniform plumbeous black, without gloss, but perfectly 
dead and homogeneous everywhere except upon the feet, which 
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