SHRE WS. 331 
fore) 
thick velvety fur. The total number of teeth is twenty-six, of which there are 
seven on each side of the upper jaw. There are only two species, of which the one 
from Assam measures about 5 inches in length, exclusive of the stumpy tail, and is 
of dark slaty colour, with a tinge of brown. 
The interest attaching to these shrews arises from the circumstance that their 
structure is indicative of burrowing habits like the mole, although nothing is 
known on this point from actual observation. 
THE SWIMMING-SHREWS. 
Genus Chimarrogale. 
Although the name swimming-shrews would be equally applicable to the 
water-shrews (Crossopus), and the latter name to the members of the present genus, 
yet it is convenient to take the two terms with the signification here given. The 
swimming shrews, of which one species (Chimarrogale himalayica) is found in the 
Himalaya and Mount Kina Balu in Borneo, and the other (C. platycephalus) in 
Japan, closely resemble the water-shrews in general appearance, but are distin- 
guished by the teeth being entirely white, and likewise by bemg twenty-eight, 
instead of thirty in number. These shrews have a small external ear-conch; broad 
scaly feet, with a fringe of coarse white hairs on their margins, and on the sides of 
each toe; and the long tail is also fringed with similar hairs. The individual toes 
are, however, not connected together by webs. 
The Himalayan swimming-shrew has a slaty-grey fur above, with the tips of 
the hairs blackish-brown. A female measured a little over 4} inches in length, 
exclusive of the tail, the length of the latter being 3 inches; but it is probable that 
other individuals are considerably larger. This shrew inhabits the south-western 
portions of the Himalayan range, at elevations from three thousand to five thousand 
feet above the sea-level; and it is also found in the hills of North Burma. It 
inhabits the banks of streams, and, doubtless, swims quite as well as the European 
water-shrew. Dr. Anderson has observed it plunging into the water, and running 
over the stones on the bed of a stream. Like its European cousin, it is said to 
feed on aquatic insects and their larvee, as well as on tadpoles, and the smaller 
fish and their fry. The assumption of aquatic habits by members of both the red- 
toothed and white-toothed sections of the shrews is an interesting example of how 
animals belonging to different’ groups may acquire almost exactly similar external 
characters, as being essential to their particular mode of life. 
THE WeEB-FOOTED SHREW. 
Genus Nectogale. 
A still further modification for the purposes of an aquatic life is exhibited by the 
web-footed water-shrew (Nectogale elegans) of Tibet, of which a group is shown in 
our coloured Plate. In these shrews not only are the feet and tail fringed with hairs, 
but the external conchs of the ears are wanting, and the toes are completely joined 
