110 Dr. T. Horsfield on some new or little-knoivn 



chiefly from the common Aonyx of India, which is found in 

 Bootau and Afghanistan, by a more clear brown colour, inclining 

 to chestnut, but the specimen is not sufficiently perfect to afford 

 the means of an accurate description. 



In the " Summary Description of four new species of Otter," 

 Journ. Asiat. Soc. viii. 319, Mr. Hodgson remarks : " One of 

 the most remarkable features of the mammalogy of Nepal is the 

 great number of distinct species of Otter characterizing it. There 

 are at least seven species, I believe, though not one of them is 

 numerous in individuals, — at least not in comparison of the 

 common Otter of commerce, which is produced in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Dacca and Sylhet." 



In the " Summary" Mr. Hodgson describes four species ; most 

 of these are rare in collections. In the Catalogue of Hodgson's 

 collection, Dr. Gray enumerates four species from Nepal : Lutra 

 tturohrunnea, Lutra chinensis, Lutra monticola, and Aonyx indi- 

 gitatus. 



27. SoREX MURiNUS, Zimmerman. 



Sorex myosurus, Pallas. 



The Museum contains specimens of this species from Nepal, 

 Bootan, and other Indian localities; among these are several very 

 perfect specimens presented by Capt. R. C. Tytler. One of 

 these, as well as a single specimen of Mr. Hodgson's last collec- 

 tion, are of comparatively larger dimensions, of a cserulcscent 

 greyish colour, agreeing with the description of Sorex ccei-ules- 

 cens of authors ; while two specimens of a former collection, re- 

 ceived from Mr. Hodgson in 1845, are of a darker colour, brown, 

 and not cserulescent, resembling the S. murimis described by 

 authors. Much uncertainty still exists in the discrimination of 

 the species of Sorex, and the real character of many species 

 enumerated by authors remains doubtful, until, for instance, 

 ceprulescens, murinus, myosurus, serpentarius, nemorivayus, soccatus, 

 &c., be subjected to a careful examination of specimens in a 

 perfect state. 



28. Sorex saturatior, Hodgson. 



Colour uniform deep brown, inclining to blackish, with a very 

 slight rufescent shade. Fur short, with an admixture of a few 

 lengthened piles; when adpresscd to the body smooth, but re- 

 versed somewhat rough and harsh. Tail cylindrical, long, and 

 gradually tapering to the point. Snout elongate, regularly at- 

 tenuated. Ears moderate, rounded. 



Very nearly allied in habit and dimensions to Sorex GriffUhii, 

 Horsf. Cat. Mamm. E. I. C. Mus. p. 134, the more lengthened 



