40 Dentition and Characters 



In the male, the length of the head and body was 2 inc. 4^ lines ; 

 that of the tail 1 inc. 9 lines ; the rest of the proportions the same 

 as in the other sex. The tail was equally stout, and more hairy, 

 the pencil at the extremity extending still further beyond the bone. 

 The colours on the whole similar, but the rufous tinge brighter and 

 more distinct ; the snout, feet, and tail, testaceous yellow. 



I think it just possible that the variety last described 7nay prove 

 to be a distinct species, but I dare not consider it as such at pre- 

 sent, and without inspecting more specimens from different locali- 

 ties. With regard to the first, as well as some others which I have 

 seen, but which I do not think it necessary to dwell upon, I feel 

 confident that they have no claim to be regarded in that light. I 

 was, indeed, till lately strongly inclined to believe, like Mr Bell, 

 that under the name of common shrew, we had in this country two 

 or more species confounded. And possibly it may still be so. I can 

 only say, that after the closest examination of every specimen of 

 which I could get possession, I have failed in detecting any tan- 

 gible characters upon which a specific difference could with certainty 

 be established. If any such difference exist, it must be sought for 

 in the number and form of the teeth, in the greater or less deve- 

 lopment of the auricle, in the breadth and size of the snout (com- 

 pared in two individuals of the same age,) and perhaps in the size 

 of the feet (similarly compared,) as well as in the presence or ab- 

 sence, of c«7f a on these last ; but certainly not in the absolute di- 

 mensions, nor in all the relative proportions, nor in the colour of 

 the fur. As for the tail, neither its length, nor thickness, nor form, 

 nor hairiness, afford characters of the slightest value. 



I shall not conclude without earnestly soliciting from the readers 

 of this Journal, any specimens of shrews which they may meet with 

 in their own neighbourhood, but which they have not the leisure to 

 examine themselves, or not the opportunity of comparing closely 

 with others. Although I have been unsuccessful hitherto in the 

 search after new British species of this genus, it is far from impro- 

 bable that such remain to be discovered. There is no reason why 

 we should not possess the S. araneus of Duvernoy, which it has 

 been one of the objects of this paper to prove to be distinct from 

 ours, nor the S. fodiens of the same author, equally distinct from 

 the species so called by our own naturalists. It is, indeed, much 

 to be suspected, that either this last, or some other aquatic species 

 besides those with which we are well acquainted, has been already- 

 met with in this country, though not identified at the time of being 

 observed. On comparing the descriptions, extant in different works. 



