126 



THE WATER SHREW. 



Sorex fodiens. AUCT. 



Blackish-brown above, silvery white beneath) the colours 

 abruptly defined ; feet and tail ciliated with bristles ; teeth 

 eight above, six below on each side ; lower anterior tooth 

 two-lobed. 



Sorex fodiens, Jen. Brit. Vert. An. 18; Bell, Brit. Quadr. 115. 

 S. Daubentonii, Desmar. Mammal. 150. 



THE Water Shrew is larger than the species already 

 described, and easily distinguished from it by the 

 darker colour of its upper parts, separated by an 

 abruptly defined line from the pure or greyish-white 

 of the lower surface. Its length, including the tail, 

 is nearly five inches and a half ; its form similar to 

 that of the Common Shrew, but more elongated ; 

 and its tail about two-thirds of the length of that of 

 the head and body together, or rather longer than 

 the latter. The snout is considerably flattened ; the 

 ears very short, rounded, with three lobes internally, 



