FAMILY SORECIDJE. 21 



Totallength, 4-0. Of tail, TS. 



Length of head and body, . 2" 5. Of. head, 0'8. 



This hardy Uttle animal is found as far north as the sixty-seventh degree of latitude, and was 

 first noticed by Forster in the work cited above, notwithstanding the English translator of 

 Cuvier asserts " that no genuine Shrews are to be found except on the ancient continent." 

 The tracks of this species are seen frequently during winter on the snow ; and this has been 

 noticed by Richardson, even when the thermometer stood at 40 to 50 degrees below zero. 

 They are found in all parts of the State, but we are as yet uncertain as to their southern 

 range. 



1 



THE CAROLINA SHREW. 



SOREX CAR0LINENSI8. 

 PLATE XXI. FIG. 2. 

 Sorex acrolinmsis. Bachman, Ac. Nat. Sc. Vol. 7, p. 366, pi. 23, fig. 1. 



Characteristics. Uniform iron grey. Tail short, flat, nearly half the length of the head. 

 Larger than the preceding. 



Description. Body rather robust. Snout long and slender, with a bilobate tip. No external 

 ears, but simply an auditory aperture. Whiskers long, and in some lights whitish. Eyes 

 exceedingly minute. Fore feet rather robust, covered sparsely with hairs ; hind feet more 

 slender. Nails moderate, subequal. Tail flat, with a small thin pencil at tip. Dental for- 

 mula : Incisors, | ; cheek teeth, f-|=: 36 ; all piceous at their tips. 



Color. A bright lustrous iron-grey over the surface, the base being of a slate color. Nose 

 and feet flesh-colored. Head and body 4*0. Head 1 • 0. Tail 0-4. 



We have referred, with some doubts, specimens of a Shrew commonly found in this State, 

 to this species. In this we have followed Bachman, until we had an opportunity of examin- 

 ing a specimen in a living state. Such an occasion has not yet presented itself. In the only 

 one which I had an opportunity to examine with any attention, the number of cheek teeth 

 exceeded those assigned to this species by Bachman. According to this author, their nests 

 are about a foot under ground, and composed of fibres of roots and grasses. They feed on 

 worms, larvae of insects, etc. This species requires farther examination. 



{EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



S. cinereus. (Bachman, Ac. Sc. Vol. 7, p. 373, pi. 23, fig. 3.) Dark iron-grey above, silver grey 



beneath; teeth 26; length 3 -3. Carolina. 

 S. richardsonii. (Id. ib. p. 383, pi. 24, fig. 5.) -S. parvus. (Richardson, Vol. 1, p. 8.) Rusty 



brown above, beneath cinereous ; total length 4 • 2 ; teeth 32. N. W. Territory. 



