168 



Hudson Bay region, inhabiting the borders of lakes. — J. Rich- 

 ardson. Franconia, N. H., swimming in a lake. — E. D. Cope. War- 

 wick, Mass. — F. W. Putnam. 



Description of a specimen of Neosorex palustris (No. 1022 M. C. Z.) 

 from Warwick, Mass, This specimen is a female preserved in alcohol, 

 and is not much, if at all, contracted. Form rather full and stout, 

 similar in size and general appearance to the common house mouse 

 (Mus musculus). Nose long and rather slender, with a small bilobed 

 tip ; nostrils lateral, and pretty well developed. Ears small, appear- 

 ing pointed, shorter than the fur, and concealed by it ; concha small 

 and rounded, its edge covered by rather long fur, its outer side by 

 shorter ; a narrow transverse fold extends across its lower portion, 

 which is likewise furred on the edges ; meatus covered by a large 

 valvular antitragus, which is rounded and hairy at its outer edge, 

 its anterior margin folding backwards to unite with the helix. 

 Eyes moderately developed. Feet large and stout, nearly des- 

 titute of hair, except along the sides, where there is a strong 

 fringe of close and stiflF hairs ; a shorter fringe borders the sides of 

 all the toes. At the base of the 1st, 2d and 5th toes there is a round 

 tubercle, another between the bases of the 3d and 4th, and two, side 

 by side, about midway between the heel and base of middle toe ; the 

 tubercles on the fore feet are arranged in a similar way, but are much 

 more crowded. Fore foot contained one and two-thirds times in the 

 length of hind foot. Tail equal in length to head and body, rather 

 large, somewhat quadrangular near the base, covered by closely 

 appressed, short, stiff hairs, with a distinct pencil at the end. Whis- 

 kers black, well developed, the longest reaching the occiput. 



In this specimen the upper lip is not split to the end of the nose, 

 as is usual in species of Sorex. This will probably be found to be a 

 generic character. 



Teeth strong and sharp, the tips of all, except the fifth upper pre- 

 molar, deep chestnut ; upper incisors with a strong basal hook, equal- 

 ling in size the third upper premolar, which is somewhat smaller than 

 the two first ; fourth premolar larger than the third ; fifth very small, 

 wedged in between fourth premolar and first molar, scarcely visible 

 from the outside ; lower incisors with three rounded serrations, their 

 bases extending back beyond the tips of the second lower premolars. 



Color above nearly black ; the fur, at base, is dark plumbeous, near 

 the ends black, the extreme tips being light gray, giving a slight 

 hoariness to the fur ; under surface of the body dark lead gray, with 

 a distinct wash of brown ; throat light gray ; chin nearly white ; feet 

 and tail black, the tail somewhat lighter beneath. The colors of the 

 back and abdomen pass into one another, without any distinct line of 

 separation. The fur is very close and full, and of moderate length. 



