164 



October Ibth, 1862. 

 The President in the chair. 



Rev. Mr. Waterston announced the recent decease of Dr. 

 B. D. Greene, of Boston, the first President of the Society. 

 He spoke of the high personal character and scientific attain- 

 ments of the deceased, and of the deep interest he ever felt 

 in the welfare of the Society ; in consideration of which, he 

 moved that a committee of two be appointed to consider 

 the best plan of procedure in reference to this loss. The 

 President, Prof. Agassiz and Dr. Pickering followed, with 

 remarks testifying to the great esteem in which Dr. Greene 

 was universally held, and of his connection with the scien- 

 tific world. Dr. Gould and Prof. Rogers were appointed 

 as the committee, to which were afterwards added the 

 names of Prof. Agassiz and Mr. Waterston. 



The following paper was presented : — 



Notice of a Species of Neosorex from Massachusetts, 

 AND of Sorex Thompsoni FROM Maine. By A. E. Ver- 



RILL. 



The genus Neosorex was instituted by Prof. S. F. Baird in 1857, 

 in the General Report on Mammals (Vol. viii. Pacific B. R. Exp. 

 and Surveys), for the reception of a peculiar species of Shrew from 

 Washington Territory, named iV. navigator. To the same genus 

 Sorex fimhripes of Bachman was also referred, with some doubt. 



The diagnosis of the genus, according to Prof. Baird, is as fol- 

 lows : — 



Neosorex, Baird. 



" Ears rather short, partly furred on both surfaces ; valvular. 



" Dental formula : anterior incisors, I ; lateral incisors and premo- 

 lars, -1;^; molars, fl|-= 32 ; upper anterior incisor with a well defined 

 hook at the base ; lower one with two tubercles and a notch ; first two 

 upper teeth, or premolars, equal, and larger than the fourth, which 

 exceeds the third, and equals the basal hook of the anterior one ; the 

 fifth smallest ; the first and half the second lower lateral teeth placed 

 above the base of the incisor ; all the teeth colored at the tip. Lower 

 angular process of lower jaw very long and slender. Tail as long, 

 or longer than the body, with a terminal pencil ; hairs uniform in 

 length, except at tip. Feet well developed, with a fringe of stiiF 

 bristles. 



