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



points ; four small upper premolars preceding the camassier, 

 the two medial being of equal size, the first rather large, and 

 the fourth small. Feet remarkably large. The ear-conch 

 scarcely visible above the fur. 



16. F. MACROPUS. Sorex feroculus, Kelaart; S. macropus, 

 nobis, J. A. S. xx. 163. Length about 64- in., of which the tail 

 is 2\ in ; hind-foot with claws nearly ^ in. ; the fore-foot \ in. 

 broad, with long and but slightly curved claws, that of the 

 middle digit \ in. in length. Fur somewhat long and very 

 soft, uniform blackish, very faintly tinged rufescent ; the ex- 

 treme tip of the tail naked and of a flesh-colour. Inhabits 

 Ceylon. 



Another white-toothed Indian Shrew exists in the Crossopus 

 HiMALAYicus, Gray, to be noticed presently. We feel much 

 doubt of its being correctly referred to Crossopus*. 



The greater number of small Shrews inhabiting the temperate 

 regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, have the teeth 

 always tipped with ferruginous or pitch-colour, a slender mouse- 

 like tail with no scattered long hairs upon it, and (save in Oti- 

 soREx) the ear-conch concealed amid the fur. There are two 

 distinct types of dentition. 



In one, the upper quasi-incisors are much longer than their 

 posterior spur (as in restricted Sorex), and the lower have but a 

 single posterior spur more or less rudimental ; the lateral small 

 teeth which follow in the upper jaw are four in number (as in 

 restricted Sorex), the first two being equal, the third somewhat 

 smaller, and the last (as usual in all Shrews) minute. With this 

 type of dentition we distinguish 



1. SoRicuLUs, nobis. With the hind-feet of ordinary form 

 and proportions, unadapted for aquatic habits; and the tail 

 tapering and a little compressed at the extremity. 



17. S. NiGRESCENs; Corsira nigrescens, Gray, Ann. & Mag. 

 Nat. Hist. x. 261 (1842) ; Sorex sikimensis, Hodgson, Horsfield^s 

 Catalogue (1851). Length of head and body 3^ in. ; of tail 1^ 

 in. ; hind-feet and claws ^ in. Number of caudal vertebrae 15 

 (besides the extreme tip). Colour throughout blackish, a little 

 tinged with rufous ; the feet and claws pale. Very common in 

 Sikim, and was formerly sent by Mr. Hodgson to the Society's 

 Museum, and also to the British Museum, from Nepal. 



* Myosorex, Gray, is founded ou a Cape species, the Sorex varius. 

 Smuts, with ear-couch concealed amid the fur, and a slender tail (without 

 scattered long hairs?) ; the teeth white, and the dentition slightly modified 

 upon that of restricted Sorex ; lower quasi-incisors " with an entire sharp 

 upper edge." 



