165 



" The genus bears a close resemblance to Crossopus, but differs in the 

 more slender muzzle, in having one more molar, and two tubercles on 

 the anterior lower incisor instead of one. With the feet similarly- 

 constituted, the tail is destitute of the median line of longer hairs. 

 The very large and highly fringed feet distinguish it from Sorex." 



In April of the present year, another species of this genus, which 

 was obtained at Franconia, N. H., was described by Mr. E. D. Cope 

 (Proc. Philadelphia Academy, 1862, p. 188), under the name of 

 Neosorex albibarbis. Two individuals were seen by him swimming in 

 a lake, about forty feet from the bank, with an undulatory motion, 

 and were caught under stones on the shore, where they had taken 

 refuge. For this aquatic mode of life the species of this genus are 

 eminently adapted by their large, fringed feet, valvular ears, and 

 close fur. 



The subject of the present notice was obtained by Mr. F. W. Put- 

 nam, at Warwick, Mass., last July, and was presented by him to the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology. Nothing was learned concerning 

 its habits. The specimen is preserved in alcohol, and, although some- 

 what larger than that described by Mr. Cope, agrees very closely 

 with it in proportions and color, and must, unquestionably, be re- 

 ferred to the same species. But a careful comparison with the pub- 

 lished descriptions and figures of Sorex palustris of Richardson has 

 led me to consider it identical, also, with that species, notwithstand- 

 ing some differences, real or apparent. 



That the latter species belongs to the genus Neosorex^ I infer from 

 the description of Richardson (Fauna Bor. Am. i., p. 6), where the 

 ear is said to be " shorter than the fur ; its inferior margin is folded 

 in; there is a heart-shaped lobe covering the auditory opening, and 

 a transverse fold above it." The tail is rounded, and covered with a 

 close coat of short hair, terminated by a small pencil of hair at the 

 tip. " Feet clothed with rather coarse, short, appressed hairs, those 

 on the sides of the toes being arranged somewhat in a parallel man- 

 ner, but not very distinctly. The fur resembles that of the mole 

 in softness, closeness, and lustre." The length of the tail was 2 

 inches and 7 lines ; head 1 inch 2 lines ; hind foot 9 lines, — dimen- 

 sions not found in any other American genus. But, on the other 

 hand, the dental formula is given as -| -[" ■l-f + f-f = ^^? ^^^ ^^ 

 length, from nose to taU, is 3 inches 6 lines. In my opinion, these 

 characters, which are different from those of N. albibarbis, can be 

 attributed to the imperfections of the description of Richardson, for 

 it was, as he himself states, " drawn up from prepared skins," which, 

 of itself, is enough to explain the greater size of the body. The 

 principal difference is in the presence of /our upper premolars in- 

 stead of /ye; but in the specimen before me the fifth premolar is 



