COUES ON INSECTIVOROUS MAMMALS. 647 



This remarkable new subgenus, the only one of America possessing 

 28 teeth, is related to Crocidura, having the same number of teeth as 

 G. aranea, and sharing other dental characters, such as absence of in- 

 ternal snag and small size of posterior hook of the upper incisor, single 

 or obsolete deuticulation of the under incisor, massiveness of the teeth, 

 and particularly of the molars, relative length of the molariform series 

 to the whole line of teeth, etc. The teeth of CroGidura are entirely 

 white, of Notiosorex scarcely colored. In both, the skull is lower behind 

 than in Sorex proper, much less constricted across the orbits, and much 

 less attenuate anteriorly, while the coronoid process of the jaw is 

 shorter, stouter, and more divergent from its fellow. 



The type of Wotiosorex is in very bad order, not permitting satisfac 

 tory examination of external characters. A dried specimen of Notioso 

 rex from Mazatlan, apparently a second species of the group, is in ex 

 cellent condition. This is strikingly similar to Crocidura in genera! 

 external appearance, even to the large scant-haired ears and short tail 

 The size is about the same, while in coloration it is scarcely distinguish 

 able from some Bavarian specimens of Groeidura labeled ^^S. leucodon 

 Hermann". 



III. Genus BLARINA, Gray, 1837. 



Sorex, spp., Auct. Amer. 



Blarina, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1837. (Type Sorex talpoides Gapper.) 



Brachysorex, Duvernoy, Mag. de Zool., 1842. 



Talpasorex, Pomel, . . . 1848. (Nee auct.) 



Cryptotes, Pomel, . . . 1848. 



Anotus, Wagxer, . . . 1855. 



(&) 

 Soriciscus, Coues, iiifril, subg. u. (Type Sorex parvus Say or S. cinereus Baclim.) 



Chars, gen. — Teeth 32 (ff) or 30 (if). Upper unicuspids either 5 or 4, 

 the two anterior of which are abruptly larger than the two or three pos- 

 terior ones, which latter are small and much crowded. When there are 

 5 unicuspids, the third and fourth are subequal to each other; in any 

 case, the fifth is minute, much smaller than any preceding one. The larger 

 unicuspids have supplementary cusps. Upper incisors without internal 

 snag or notch, and rarely connivent, with greater or less development 

 of the posterior hook. Under incisor with several obtuse denticula- 

 tions, or nearly s'iuuate, extending backward a variable distance, accord- 

 ing to the subgenera. Skull variable in massiveness, etc., in the same 

 way. Teeth all colored on the points. Coronoid process of jaw com- 

 paratively short, stout, and erect (rather inclined forward as well as out- 

 ward, as in Sorex and its subdivisions). Styliform angular process of jaw 

 very short, scarcely or not reaching as far back as the condyle. Tail 

 short, scarcely or not as long as the head, uniformly haired, with a small 



