184 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



where there is a slight sprinkling of fawn. The sides of 

 the mouth are reddish. 



This species is not entirely new. It is the same which 

 has been designated by Petiver under the title of Sorex 

 Araneus maximus Capensis. He has given a bad figure of 

 it, which was copied by Valentin. Burmann has also men- 

 tioned it in his work on the animals of the Cape. 



According to MM. Peron and Lesueur, this species lives 

 in caves. They take wonderful pains at the Cape for the 

 destruction of this animal, as it is extremely troublesome, 

 both on account of the mischief which it occasions, and 

 the powerful odour which it exhales. 



The Rat-tailed Shrew {Sorex Myosurus) bears a consi- 

 derable resemblance to the preceding.- For some time 

 M. Geoffroy was inclined to consider it as an albine va- 

 riety of the Sorex Capensis, for it approaches it in size, 

 in the magnitude, and nakedness of the ears. There 

 seem, however, to be essential differences between the 

 two animals, which may justify their reference to distinct 

 species. 



The tail of the Myosurus is longer and, more especially, 

 much thicker than that of the Cape Shrew. The muzzle, 

 on the contrary, is much shorter and singularly inflated on 

 the sides. The limbs are strong, the feet thick, the ears 

 very large, the hairs of the tail more dispersed, and the 

 silky ones more numerous and longer. 



This animal is entirely white. 



The Sorex Myosurus was described by Pallas in the Acts 

 of Petersburgh, in 1781, and figured. In the same plate 

 he gives the figure of another Shrew, which he considers 

 the male of his Myosurus. It may be observed, however, 

 that the appearance of this last is considerably different 

 from the Myosurus ; the head thicker, the tail shorter, and 

 the fur altogether of a brownish black. 



M. Geoffroy gives us a figure of the skeleton of this 

 Shrew, on which it may be observed, that it has two dorsal 



