22 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



S. cooperi. (Id. ib. p. 388, pi. 24, fig. 7.) Dark brown, beneath ash; nose long and pointed ; tail as 



long as the head and body; total length 3 '5. N. W. Territory. The smallest quadruped yet 



observed in the United States. 

 S. fimbripes. (Id. ib. p. 391, pi. 24, fig. 8.) Dark brown above, fawn-colored beneath; feet broad, 



fringed at the edges ; tail a little shorter than the body ; total length 3 '9. Pennsylvania. 

 S. palustris. (Richardson, F. B. A. p. 5.) Blackish hoary above, lighter beneath; total length 6 •2. 



Arctic Regions. 



GENUS OTISOREX. 



Ears large and prominent, beyond the fur. Nose elongated. Eyes distinct. Tail quad- 

 rangular. Teeth, 33. 



Obs. We have ventured to propose this group, founded upon a northern and southern 

 species, both exceedingly small. 



THE BROAD-NOSED SHREW. 



Otisoeex plattbhinds. 

 plate v. fig. 1. — (state collection.) 

 Characteristics. Dark brown, paler beneath. Total length, four inches. 



Description. Head large. Nose much elongated, and flattened vertically ; bordered on 

 each side above with long whiskers, the tips of the most posterior extending beyond the ears ; 

 a few shorter ones on the lower jaw. Extremity of the muzzle naked and blackish, bilobate 

 at the tip ; nostrils small, lateral. Eyes small, but distinct and black, equi-distant between 

 the tip of the nose and the margins of the ears. Ears very large, rounded and membrana- 

 ceous, sub-angular on the upper margin, sparsely covered within and without with long hairs ; 

 a transverse membranous septum across the auditory foramen, thinly covered with hair. Fore 

 feet feeble, pentadactyle, 0"5 long. Toes separate, covered with short, shining, whitish 

 hairs ; internal shortest ; the outer, second, fourth and third, counting from within, suc- 

 cessively longer. Nails moderate, slightly curved. Hind feet slender, 0"8 long, sparsely 

 covered with light rufous hairs. Tail quadrangular, slightly constricted at its base, tapering 

 to a point, covered thinly with short hairs, but not concealing the annulations. Fur over the 

 whole body quite long and thick, varying from 0'2 to 0"4 inches. Tongue long, sublinear, 

 papillose with transverse rugae. Weight, 45-50 grains. Skull elongated. Teeth minute, 

 tinged with piceous at their tips. Dental formula : Incisors, | ; cheek teeth, If = 32. In 

 the upper jaw the incisors are short, with broad and dilated bases : They have a double tip, 

 the posterior being small, distant and tubercular ; the five succeeding are small, the fifth 

 being, however, so exceedingly minute as to escape observation, unless aided by the lens ; 

 the sixth witli a trifid tip, and a small dilated tubercular heel ; the seventh and eighth sub- 



