FAMILY. 



SOEICIDAE. 



As stated previously, the family of shrews, in its most extended sense, is characterized by a 

 general mouse or rat-like appearance, muzzle elongated and tapering ; ear, with a distinct concha ; 

 feet normal, or the anterior smaller than the posterior, by which character of ears and feet it is 

 readily distinguished from the Talpidce. The soft hair separates it at once from the Aculeata. 



The skeleton presents from 12-14 pairs of ribs ; 6-8 vertebrae, without ribs ; 3-5 sacral, and 

 14-28 caudal vertebras. The tibia and fibula are united, the clavicles thin, the pubic arch 

 closed. The stomach is simple, the coecum wanting or very large, the penis long ; there are 

 peculiar glands on the side of the body, or the base of the tail. 



Of the various genera comprising the family, none are found in North America except those 

 belonging to the Soricinac, and the only other new world representative is Solenodon, from Cuba. 

 This is as large as a rat, with 40 teeth, and a naked tail. The hair is quite bristly. Rhyn- 

 cocyon has large ears, stiff hairs, and four-toed feet. Gymnura is of large size, with rounded 

 ears, and naked ears and tail. Macroscelides has very long hind feet and tail. 



SUB-FAMILY SORICINAE. 



The shrews of all parts of the world are distinguished by an elongated and pointed muzzle ; 

 external ears, with two inner lobes, formed by the development of the antitragus and helix ; 

 feet, five-toed, each with a distinct claw ; the fore feet but little broader, if at all, than the 

 hinder ; the tail variable in length. They are spread over the northern hemisphere, some 

 species ranging very far to the north, and, although the smallest of known mammals, sustain 

 ing the rigors of the severest winters. Species have been found in Southern and Central Africa, 

 Asia, the East Indies, and the whole of Europe ; hitherto, the region of the Rio Grande, of 

 Texas, has proved the American limit to the south ; no well authenticated specimens having 

 been brought from South America. It is true, indeed, that J. E. Gray mentions, in the Pro 

 ceedings of the Zoological Society for 1844, having received two shrews from Coban, in Central 

 America, which he names Corsira tropicalis and C. temlyas, but he has, as yet, published no 

 accounts of them, not even their specific characters. 



The skull of the shrews has several peculiarities. It is long and narrow, much pointed 

 anteriorly ; compressed at the orbits, and in some species having a distinct crest along the 

 crown. The malar bone is wanting, and there is no zygomatic arch. There is a deep fossa on 

 the inner side of the coronoid process. 



The teeth of the shrews vary from 28 to 32, although some American authors give as many 

 as 34 and 36, probably erroneously. There are two very large incisor teeth in each jaw, directed 

 nearly horizontally forward ; the upper pair much curved and forming a hook ; the lower 

 straighter, and usually with the trenchant upper edge more or less lobed. In the posterior part 



