THE SOMALI SHREW 

 Crocidura somalica, Thos. 



Somali name, fir 



DESCRIPTION. This shrew was first described by Thomas 

 from a specimen collected near the Webi Shebeleh by Col. A. 

 Paget. The description of the type specimen was as follows : 

 " Size small, form slender. General colour above slaty-grey, more 

 or less variegated with brown. Belly clear grey, chin white. 

 Ears whitish, very finely haired. Hands and feet white. Tail 

 fairly long, slender, not markedly incrassated, but yet thicker at 

 its base, whence it evenly tapers to its tip pale brown above, 

 white below, the bristles white." 



MEASUREMENTS of the above specimen in spirit were : 

 Head and body .. . . . . . 53 mm. 



Tail . . ;. ..'.. ._ . ..,..,. ; , 39 

 Hindfoot . , . . . .11*2 



Forearm and hand . ^ . . . 1 5*6 



DISTRIBUTION. The only specimen, the one described, came 

 from the Webi Shebeleh. 



HABITS. Same as other members of same genus. 



170 



