166 



very small, and destitute of the brown color at the tip, while it is so 

 placed between the fourth premolar and first molar, that it could not 

 be seen without cutting away the lip, and with a prepared skin, it is 

 not surprising that it should have been overlooked even by so accu- 

 rate an observer as the distinguished author of the Fauna Boreali- 

 Americana. 



An additional confirmation of this view of its generic affinities may 

 be derived from the fact that Dr. J. E. Gray, having the original 

 specimen of Richardson for examination, referred it to the genus A7n- 

 pMsorex, which he characterized as having fringed feet. (See Pr. 

 Zool. Soc. Lond., v. 1837, p. 125.) 



Admitting, then, that Sorex palustris of Richardson belongs to the 

 genus Neosorex, its identity with N. albibarhis, Cope, remains to be 

 shown. 



The proportions, and even the absolute size of the former (except- 

 ing that of the body, which was, probably, overstuffed), agree very 

 closely with those given by Mr. Cope, as the following comparison 

 wiU show. 



Length of head and body . . . . 



Length of head 



Length of tail 



Length of hind foot 



From nose to eye 



Nose to upper incisors, scarcely 



Height of ear 



Length of fore foot 



Nature of specimen 



N. albibarbis, 

 Cope. 



lD0be3. Lines. 



2 . .8i 



1 . .2| 



2* • . 9 



' 'si 



In alcohol. 



Sorex palus- 

 tris, Kich. 



Inches. Lines. 



3 . . 6 



1 . . 2 



2 . . 7 



9 

 7 

 2 

 3 



Prepared 

 skin. 



It Is very seldom that two specimens of the same species, among 

 mammals, agree more nearly. In proportions and size, than these. 



The principal difference seems to be In color ; but both are remark- 

 able for their dark tints. According to Richardson, the back is 

 " black, with a slightly hoary appearance when turned to the light." 

 " On the ventral aspect it is ash-colored." " The outside of the 

 thighs and upper surface of the tail correspond In color with the 

 back, the under surface of the tail and inside of the thighs with the 

 belly." " The feet are paler than the back, and a little hoary." Ac- 

 cording to Cope, " The general color is black, with a tinge of brown ; 

 this tinge is more apparent on the abdomen, and most upon the 



* In the original description the length of the tail is given as " 1 in. 9 lines," 

 but Mr. Cope has informed me, by letter, that this is an error, and should be 2 

 in. 9 lines. 



