22 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



S. cooperi. {Id. ib. p. 388, pi. 24, fig. 7.) Dark bro^\Ti, beneath ash; nose long and pointed ; tail as 



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



observed in the United States. 

 S. fimbripcs. (Id. ib. p. 391, pi. 24, fig- 8.) Dark bro-\\Ti above, fa\vn-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. 



OtISOREX PLATYIIIIINUS. 

 rL.1.TE 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 rugaj. Weight, 45-50 grains. Skull elongated. Teeth minute, 

 tinged with piceous at their tips. Dental formula : Incisors, |; cheekteeth, i| = 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 with a trifid lip, and a small dilated tubercular heel ; the seventh and eighth sub- 



