228 



ascertained (Jour. An. Phys. xx, p. 359) that tiliere are no lower 

 canines. The two front teeth in each jaw (median incisors) differ 

 from all the others : in the upper jaw they are curved, and bear a 

 more or less prominent posterior basal cusp ; in the lower jaw 

 they are long, they project horizontally forward, and are sometimes 

 slightly curved upwards at the end. Behind the anterior pair of 

 upper incisors come a variable number of small incisors and pre- 

 molars, amongst which the small canines can be recognized only 

 by their position immediately behind the premaxillary suture, 

 which, however, is only visible in very young animals. The last 

 premolar is large, and there are always three upper molars on 

 each side, the hinder much smaller than the others. There are 

 always 12 teeth in the lower jaw 4 incisors, 2 premolars, and 6 

 molars ; whilst the number in the upper jaw varies from 14 to 20. 

 Some genera are distinguished by having the teeth tipped with 

 brown, in others the teeth are white throughout. 



8hrews have the widest distribution of any family of Insectivora, 

 being found throughout the temperate and tropical portions of 

 Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, with many of the 

 adjacent islands. 



The following account of the shrews of India is in great part 

 derived from Mr. Dobson's notes, prepared for the third part 

 (not yet published) of his Monograph of the Insectivora. The 

 classification and most of the synonymy are his, and I am greatly 

 indebted to him for the assistance he has given to me in dealing 

 with one of the most difficult groups of Indian mammals. 



A monograph of the Indian forms known to him was published 

 by Blyth in 1855 (J. A. S. B. xxiv, p. 24), and Anderson has 

 published two papers on the subject (P. Z. S. 1873, p. 227, and 

 J. A. S. B. xlvi, pt. 2, p. 261). 



The Indian genera of shrews may be thus distinguished : 



A. Teeth tipped with reddish brown SOEICULUS. 



B. Teeth entirely white. 



a. Tail without inferior fringe of white hairs: 



terrestrial. 

 a'. 16 or 18 teeth in upper jaw ; ear-conch and 



tail well developed CHOCIDURA. 



b'. 14 upper teeth ; ear-conch small ; tail very 



short ANUROSOBEX. 



b. Tail with an inferior fringe of white hairs: 



aquatic. 



a'. Ear-conch developed CHIMARROOALK. 



b'. Ear-conch wanting NECTOGALE. 



G-enus SORICTJLUS, Blyth (1855). 



Terrestrial. Ears small, hairy, more or less hidden by the fur. 

 Tail hairy, but not provided \vith any scattered long hairs, nearly 

 cylindrical and tapering very gently, greatly resembling that of a 

 mouse. Fur soft and velvety. 



