Mammalia. 27 



P. pachiptis, and in point of size comes very near to P. tenuis, 

 which, however, is distinguished from it by its much bhicker tint, 

 and the complete absence of the rufous tinge which is noticeable 

 to a greater or less extent in all the specimens of the present 

 species. In P. tenuis also the outer incisor is stouter than the 

 outer cusp of the inner. P. indiciis is brighter- coloured and some- 

 what larger. 



The measurements of this species are as follows : — 



Type Head aud 



The above measurements are taken from spirit specimens. The 

 length of the tail is given approximately only. 



The following measurements are from freshly-killed specimens :— 



3. Crocidura fuliginosa, Blyth, var. trichura, Dobson. 



Soirx fnUginosKs, Blyth: Journ. Roy. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, xxiv, p. 3G2. 

 Crocidura fulir/inosa, var. trichura, Dobson: P.Z.S., 1888, p. 532. 



The Christmas Island shrew was described by Dobson as a local 

 variety of Crocidura fuliginosa (Blyth), a species occurring in the 

 Eastern Himalayas, Assam, and Tenasserim. His description is as 

 follows : — 



" This variety differs from the typical form in the much greater 

 length of the tail, which also, unlike most specimens of that species, 

 is beset with long fine hairs. 



" In the shape of the skull and teeth and in all other characters 

 it so closely resembles typical examples of C. fuliginosa that I 

 hesitate to consider it more than a local variety of that .species." 



The specimen which Dobson took as type seems to have possessed 

 an exceptionally long tail, some 1 mm. longer than tlie head and 

 body. In most of my specimens measured in the flesh the tail is 

 shorter (in one case hy 10 mm.) than the head and body, and in one 

 or two specimens only is it slightly longer. Jv^evertheless, since in 

 all the specimens from the island the tail differs from that of the 

 typical form in being thickly covered with fine hairs, it will be 

 best to retain Dobson's varietal name trichura. 



