FAMILY SORECIDA. 17 
collection of the Zoological Society of London, undoubtedly from America, but the particular 
district was not known. 
The Shrew-mole has a wide geographical range, being found from Carolina to the fiftieth 
degree of north latitude, and from the Atlantic to the shores of the Pacific. 
GENUS SOREX. Linneus. 
Cutting teeth, }; the upper curved and notched at the base. Head elongated ; snout pro- 
duced and moveable. Ears short, rounded, broader than long, concealed, occasionally not 
elevated above the skull. Feet short, with five nails; phalanges small, separate, with 
feeble hooked nails. A series of glands, exhaling a strong odor, along the flanks. Cheek 
teeth, =. 
Oss. This genus contains some of the smallest of our quadrupeds. The English translator 
of Cuvier’s Régne Animal, asserts that no genuine Shrews are to be found, except on the 
ancient continent; an assertion which is contradicted by the fact that thirteen species have 
been described in North America, and when farther investigations are made, the number will 
probably be much increased. It will be found that the characters of the genus will require 
careful revision, and several small but distinct groups will be established. The habits of the 
- animals of this genus are nocturnal, and they burrow for the most part in the ground like the 
shrew-mole. All are said to be fond of the water, swimming with great ease, and diving 
well. 
DE KAY’S SHREW. 
SoREX DEKAYI. 
PLATE V. FIG. 2.—(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Sorex dekayi, BacHMAN, Acad. Sc. Vol. 7, p. 377, pl. 23, fig. 4. 
Characteristics. Uniform dark bluish throughout. Chin light brown. Feet reddish brown. 
Total length 5 to 6 inches. 
Description. Body subfusiform, tapering gradually to the snout, which is elongated, emar- 
ginate, and covered near the extremity with short hairs. Head small; nostrils terminal. 
Eyes visible, and 0°6 distant from the snout. No projecting external ear. Whiskers nu- 
merous, whitish; the longest were five-tenths of an inch long. The fore feet 0°5 long, 
sparsely hairy, with scaly phalanges ; the internal toe or thumb is articulated high up, and 
is shorter than the external; the second and fourth subequal; the middle longest; claws 
short, white, and feebly channelled beneath for two-thirds of their length from the tips. Base 
of the claws enlarged, and compressed laterally. Hind legs placed very far back, 0°6 long, 
and sparsely hairy ; the three middle claws subequal. Tail very slender, subquadrate, with 
Fauna. 3 
