18 Mr. E. Blyth on the Indian species of Shrews. 



animal — " Size and proportions of S. nemorivagus^ H. (nearly), 

 but distinguished bj'^ its feet being clad with fur down to the 

 nails, and by its depressed head and tumid bulging cheeks 

 (mystaceal region). Ears large and exposed. Colour a uniform 

 sordid or brownish slaty- blue, extending to the clad extremities. 

 Snout to rump 3^ in. ; tail 2^ in. ; planta -[| in. This animal 

 was caught in a wood plentifully watered, but not near the 

 water. It had no musky smell when brought to me dead." 

 Hab. Nepal and Sikim. 



[For further remarks on the synonymy of this species, see a 

 note appended to the account of Soriculus nigrescens. — 11. F. T.] 



5. S. NEMORiVAGUs, Hodgson, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist, xv.269. 

 Differs from the ordinary type "^ by a stouter make, by ears 

 smaller, and legs entirely nude, and by a longer and more tetra- 

 gonal tail. Colour sooty-black, with a vague reddish smear ; 

 the nude parts fleshy-grey. Snout to ramp 3| in. ; tail 2 in. ; 

 planta \^ in. Found only in woods and coppices." Nepal. 

 Accordmg to Dr. Gray, an example presented to the British 

 Museum by Mr. Hodgson, as of this species, "is probably only 

 a half-grown specimen of S. murinus " [i. e. c.erulescens) ! * 

 The foregoing description should indicate a very different ani- 

 mal, but which might be mistaken for the young of S. murinus 

 {verus), and such probably is the supposed S. murinus from 

 Nepal of Dr. Horslield^s Catalogue. 



[See the note on this last-mentioned species. — R. F. T.] 



6. S. HETERODON, uobis, n. s. Very similar to S. soccatus 

 in general appearance, but less dark-coloured, with shorter fur, 

 and pale instead of blackish feet and tail underneath ; the feet, 

 too, are broader, especially the hind-feet, and they have a hairy 

 patch below the heel. The skull, of the same length as in 

 S. SOCCATUS, and with equally large teeth, is much more narrow, 

 and the upper quasi-incisors are conspicuously less strongly 

 hooked than in that and other typical Sorices. From Cherra 

 Punji in the Khasya Hills. 



7. S. NIGER, Elliot; described in Dr. Hoi-sfield^s Catalogue 

 (1851). "Length of the head and body 3^ in. ; of tail 2^ in. 

 Tail equal in length to the entire animal, exclusive of the head, 

 gradually tapering to a point. Snout greatly attenuated. Colour 



* We made a description of the identical specimen before it was taken 

 by Mr. Hodgson to England, viz. — " Of a shining rufescent-brown colour, 

 merely weaker on the under parts. Length 3h in. ; of tail 1| in. ; fore-feet 

 and claws ^ in. j the claws alone \ in., and of a yellow colour, perhaps 

 whitish in the fresh animal ; hind-feet and claws f in." 



