46 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



of the existence of more than a single species of Blarina It 

 seems, on the other hand, very probable that there is but one 

 somewhat variable species, extending from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific, and from Mexico to northern Canada and Behring's 

 straits. This species is moderately abundant about Minneapolis. 



The following measurements may be taken as indicating the 

 average size : Body and head, 3.50 ; tail, .85 1.00 ; hind foot, 

 .64 ; forefoot, .44. A male, somewhat larger, had a tail meas- 

 uring 1.08 ; the hind foot, .65 ; nose to eye, .50 ; nose to tip of 

 incisors, .30. 



The short-tailed shrews are more mole-like in appearance 

 than the smaller species, both on account of their low form and 

 short tail, and the dark mole-like pelage. The color is dark 

 plumbeous above, with a somewhat glossy reflection. The hairs 

 are fine. The lower parts are lighter and with rusty or rufous 

 gloss. The whiskers are numerous, fine and light-colored. 

 The head is rather stout and short, and in this respect differs 

 to a marked degree from the smaller shrews. The head is 

 also much depressed, and the eyes lie nearly half way between 

 the muzzle and the back of the head. The muzzle is not nearly 

 as long as in Sorex, and is truncated and naked with the nostrils 

 opening on the sides. The ear is not seen in life, although it is 

 large, because the meatus is closed by the auricle. The anti- 

 tragus and antihelix are well developed and valvular. The 

 palm has five callosities, the sole six. The tail is constricted 

 at the base, and expands suddenly, after which it is of uniform 

 size until near the end ; it is but moderately hairy, although 

 bearing a considerable pencil at the tip. The upper surface of 

 the feet is minutely hairy. The third toe is longest. 



It would perhaps be expected that the size of southern speci- 

 mens would be less than those farther north, and this may 

 explain " B. carolinensis" of authors, in the specific characters 

 of which the only tangible point seems to be the inferior size. 

 B. angusticeps must be regarded, until farther information is 

 obtained, as an illustration of an extreme instance of individual 

 variation, such as may be occasionally met with in any species. 



The specimen figured above was obtained in Ohio, March 4th, 

 and is one of several seen at about the same time. The meas- 

 urements are as follows : 



Length of body, 3.1 ; tail, 0.9 ; total, 4.0 ; hind foot, 0.48 ; fore 

 foot, 0.39 ; nose to eye, 0.41 ; nose to ear, 0.80 ; vibrissse, 0.70. 



Color uniform plumbeous black, without gloss, but perfectly 

 dead and homogeneous everywhere except upon the feet, which 



