170 



good state of preservation, thougli It is probable that the body is 

 somewhat contracted and measures less than when fresh. Teeth | — 

 Ai. — -4;A = 30; premolars not imbricated, the first two about equal, 

 considerably larger than the third and fourth, not exceeding the 

 basal hook of the upper incisors. Form rather more thick than usual 

 in this genus, but very small and delicate ; legs very slender ; feet very 

 small ; the fore feet contained about 1^ times in the hind ones ; nose 

 short, conical, pointed, scarcely depressed, much less elongated than 

 that of S. Cooperi; ears large, but projecting only a little beyond 

 the fur; eyes larger than usual in the genus; tail slender, about 

 3|^ times the length of the hind foot, pretty well furred, with a dis- 

 tinct pencil of hair at the tip ; whiskers well developed, numerous, 

 about |- in. long. 



Color of body, head and tail, above, dark olive brown with a slight 

 hoariness ; under surface of body light plumbeous gray ; lips, chin, 

 feet, and lower side of tail, yellowish white ; tips of the teeth dark 

 chestnut brown ; the lower incisors have two strong serrations ; 

 feet with a distinct fringe of fine, close hairs, as in S. Cooperi. 



Description of a specimen in alcohol from Waterville, Me. (No. 

 1164 M. C. Z.). This specimen was taken July 14. It is a male, and 

 does not appear to be fully adult. The body is somewhat mutilated 

 and evidently stretched beyond its natural length. 



Form very small and slender, agreeing in all respects with the 

 last, except that the body appears longer ; teeth agreeing in number 

 and relative size with those of the last, but shorter ; premolars less 

 pointed ; incisors shorter, the lower ones without serrations ; the tips 

 of most of the teeth are light chestnut, but this is scarcely apparent 

 on the premolars. Color, above, dark gray or plumbeous, with a dis- 

 tinct wash of brown along the middle of the back ; the tips of the 

 hairs on the sides tinged with the same ; body beneath grayish white ; 

 the lips, chin, feet, and tail, whitish, as in the former specimen ; pen- 

 cil of hair at tip of tail very small. Proportions as in the preceding. 

 Feet, as in several other species of this genus, furnished with a short 

 but distinct fringe of fine hairs ; upper surface pretty well furred. 



This specimen agrees very closely with Sorex Hoyi, described by 

 Prof Baird, from Eacine, Wig., and renders it probable that the latter 

 species is only a variety of S. Thompsoni, depending upon age or sea- 

 son, as was suggested by Prof. Baird. The proportions are nearly the 

 same, and the colors similar, being much lighter than in the preceding 

 specimen. 



