CORSIRA ALPINA. 61 



Gen. GORSIRA, Gray. 



Syn. Amphisorex, Duvernoy. 



Char. Lower incisors distinctly serrated, with three or four points ; 

 anterior point of upper incisors not prolonged beyond a level with its 

 posterior spur ; the lateral small teeth following in the upper jaw are 

 five, gradually diminishing in size from the first backwards ; tail cylin- 

 drical, not tapering, furnished with a stiff brush at the tip ; teeth tipped 

 with ferruginous. 



84. Corsira alpina. 



Sorex apud SCHINZ. S. caudatus, HODGSON. BLYTH, Cat. 261. 

 THE ALPINE SHREW. 



Descr. Deep blackish-brown, very slightly rufescent in certain lights ; 

 tail slender, nearly naked, very slightly attenuated, equal in length to 

 the head and body j compressed at the tip. 



Length, head and body 2J inches ; tail 2J. 



Mr. Tomes has identified this species with the Alpine shrew of Europe, 

 to which indeed Blyth had previously noted -its close affinity. It has 

 only been procured, I believe, from the neighbourhood of Darjeeling. 



Sorex vulgaris, L., and S. pygmceus, Pallas, of Europe, belong to this 

 group, and there are several American members of it, some of which, 

 with a shorter tail, were named Brachysorex by Duvernoy, and others 

 with prominent ears, Otisorex, by Dekay. 



Sorex macropus, Blyth, from Ceylon, has been made the type of Fero- 

 culus by Kelaart. It has a thick tapering tail, strong feet, and ears 

 almost concealed. It is of large size. 



The genus Myogalea (olim Mygale), or musk-rat, of which there are two 

 species in Europe, is another genus of this family. They have long car- 

 tilaginous snouts, a long scaly tail, and are aquatic in their habits. 

 Solenodon paradoxus of the West Indies, previously alluded to, has the 

 habit of a large shrew, with a long naked tail, and is placed in the family 

 by some naturalists. 



Fam. ERINACEJD.E, Hedgehogs. 



Back protected by spines or rigid bristles, with setae intermixed ; feet 

 pentadactylous, not fossorial ; tail, very short or none. 



The body of the hedgehogs is short, thick, and stout, and the muzzle is 

 less pointed than in the other groups of this order. The cranium is said 



