LESSER SHREW. 



INSECTIVORA. 



148a 



SORICID^. 



LESSER SHREW. 



Sorex pygmceus (Pallas). 



Specific Character. — Brown above, white beneath ; tail usually longer than 

 the head and body, well clad with hairs. The fifth i^ointed tooth in the 

 upper jaw in the same line as the preceding ones, and distinctly visible 

 externally. Length of head and body about two inches. 



Sorex pygraatis, Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat., I. , 1 34. 

 ,, rusticus, Jenyns, Ann. Nat. Hist., 1838, p. 417. 



In the "Magazine of Zoology and Botany" for 1837, 

 the Rev. L. Jenyns described two varieties of Sorex 

 tetragonurus {S. vulgaris), and in 1888, in the "Annals of 

 Natural History," he separated the smaller of these as a 

 distinct species under the name of S. rusticus. At the 

 same time he described an Irish specimen as possibly 

 distinct, for which he proposed the name of S. hihernicus, 

 but he was afterwards convinced that it was identical. 

 In 1857, Prof. Blasius expressed his conviction tliat 

 S. rusticus of Jenyns was identical with S. jvjgnueus of 

 Pallas {^^ Sdugethiere Deutschlands,'" p. 153). By the kind- 

 ness of our friend Prof. Newton, w^c have been able to 

 examine one of Mr. Jenyns' typical specimens, presented 



