180 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



its want of novelty, and, also, because the habit which it 

 indicates, namely, that of digging burrows in the earth, is 

 common to all the Shrews, who invariably do so, when they 

 find no cavity of the kind ready made for their reception. 



This Shrew is about the size of the common one, but its 

 tail is a little longeF than the Iatter's. Its muzzle seems 

 stronger, and strait stiff hairs, extended over the cartilages 

 of the nose, give it a shorter and blunter appearance. The 

 ears are entirely concealed in the hair with which all their 

 external parts are completely covered. 



On the inspection of the crania of this and the preceding 

 species, it was found that the cerebral case was sensibly 

 larger, and less bulbous in the Constrictus, and the fore- 

 head was more arched in the Tetragonurus. The teeth of 

 both are similar. The Constrictus has, as well as the other 

 two, additional canines in the upper jaw. All these may 

 be safely considered as so many characteristic traits, having 

 been ascertained in individuals taken at the same age. 



The form of the tail of this animal has given rise to the 

 specific appellation of Constrictus. It is fiat at its origin, 

 narrow, and exhibits an appearance that seems to be the 

 result of compression ; while in the remaining part, espe- 

 cially towards the middle, it is thick, as if swelled out, and 

 round, except at its extremity, where it is again flattened, 

 and where the hairs unite in a point, like those of a paint- 

 ing-brush. 



The fur is tolerably long, and soft to the touch. The 

 hairs, for a considerable portion of their length, are black- 

 ish, and red at the points. The belly is of a grayish-brown, 

 and the throat is ash-coloured. The hair, of recent growth, 

 is somewhat of a clearer colour than the old. In the first 

 kind, underneath the belly, the points are gray, but in the 

 hair, which is ready to fall, they are red. 



This Shrew is also remarkable for the copiousness and 

 equality of its hair, dispositions, which impart to its fur, a 



