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THE COMMON SHREW. 



Sorex araneus. AUCT. 

 PLATE VI. 



Reddish-brown above, pale brownish-grey beneath ; tail 

 and feet not ciliated ; teeth ten above, six below , on each 

 side ; lower anterior tooth four-lobed. 



Sorex araneus. Jen. Brit. Vert. An. 17; Bell, Brit. Quadr. 

 109. 



THE Common Shrew varies in size and colour, and 

 is, probably, confounded with one or more species 

 hitherto undetermined. Its length, including the 

 tail, is about four inches and a half; its body mo- 

 derately full ; the neck short ; the head tapering to 

 a pointed snout ; the ears very short and rounded ; 

 the fore-feet small, with five slender toes ; the hind- 

 feet larger, with the five toes destitute of lateral 

 bristles, or ciliae beneath, which are observed in the 

 aquatic species ; the claws of all curved, compressed, 

 acute, and of moderate length ; the tail shorter than 



