MAMMALS SORICINAE SOREX FORSTERI. 



23 



in the side of the body, covered with hairs much shorter than elsewhere, indicating the position 

 of the musk gland. 



The upper parts, generally, are of a bluish hoary, with a slight tinge of brown ; beneath, the 

 tint is brownish gray, considerably paler than the back. The feet and lower surface of the tail 

 are brownish white ; the upper surface of the latter like the back ; its extreme tip quite dusky. 

 The fur, when examined closely, is seen to be of a clear plumbeous, tipped with the colors men 

 tioned ; but between their base and tips are three very narrow, nearly obsolete, rings of lighter, 

 readily visible, where a portion has been lost. The teeth are white, with the extreme tips only 

 light chestnut, differing greatly in this respect from the conspicuous coloration of S. talpoides. 



Dimensions of 622. (Specimen in alcohol.) 



The skull is too much broken to exhibit properly its shape. The dentition is as follows : 

 2 + |ii + ^' The hook at the base of the anterior upper incisor is about as large as the third 

 lateral tooth ; these lateral teeth diminish regularly and very gradually from the first to the 

 fourth, or even the fifth, and are all much imbricated. The fifth is smallest, though larger than 

 in some species. The lower anterior incisor has two lobes or obtuse serrations. 



This species resembles somewhat No. 813 (Sorex trowbridgii) from Astoria ; it differs, how 

 ever, in a much smaller ear, smaller hands and feet, shorter tail, lighter color, &c. The skull 

 is considerably broader in the muzzle. The anterior upper incisors are larger and more curved ; 

 the lateral teeth diminish gradually from the first to the fifth, instead of having the third ab 

 ruptly smaller than the second and considerably less than the fourth. The serrated lobes of the 

 lower anterior incisor are larger. 



The present species agrees very well with the description of the Sorex forsteri, as given by Dr. 

 Bachman, from New York, although not very well with the species of Kichardson. Still the 

 differences are not very tangible, and the name may properly be retained, for the present at least. 

 It is uncertain whether Richardson's specimen came from the Hudson's Bay region, or from the 

 Columbia probably, however, from the former ; in which case, there is the more likelihood of 

 its occurring in New York. 



