98 



movement in that direction. In fighting, it did not spring np high, nor attempt to leap 

 upon its adversary, as the Mouse, but jerked itself along, stepping firmly, with the fore 

 feet well forward and the head high. On coming in contact with the Mouse, it snapped 

 at him, and, though it sometimes rose on its hind feet in the struggle, I did not observe 

 that it used its fore feet as weapons of offense, like Arvicola. Its posture, when on 

 guard, was always with the feet spread and firmly braced, and the head held with the 

 snout pointing upward and the mouth and chin pointing forward, in which position its 

 eyes would have been of no use could it have seen. The motions of the animal, when 

 angry, are characterized by a peculiar firmness ; the muscles appear to be held very 

 rigid, while the movements are made by quick, energetic jerks. Short springs, either 

 backward, forward, or sideways, appear to be made with equal readiness." 



None of the specimens kept captive lived more tlian a day or two, al- 

 though %ell cared for. They would not leave the sides of the wall or 

 cage and cross the middle, but run around the sides; unless sharply 

 chased, they would not jump over an ear of corn in the way, but ran 

 around it. When hurt, this Shrew utters a short, tremulous note ; when 

 much enraged, this note becomes longer, harsher, and twittering, like 

 that of some sparrosvs. Occasionally, a short, clear cry is uttered, softer 

 and lower, but not unlike that of the Common Mink. 



Blaeina (Soriciscus) parva Say. 

 Least Shrew. 



1823. Sorex parvus, Say, Long's Expedition, i, 1823, 164. — ^Harlan, Fauna 

 Am,, 1824, 29.— Bachman, J. A. N. Sc. Ph., vii, 1837, 394. 



1837. Sorex cinerea, Bachman, J. A. N. Sc Ph., vii, 1837, 378; pi. 

 xxiii, f. 3. 



1878. Blarirw, (Soriciscus) parva, (Say) Jordan, Manual of the Vertebrates, 

 2d ed., 1878 (addenda, page 363). 



Specific Characters. — Body rather stout ; feet small ; head two-thirds the 

 length of the foot; foot little more than half the length of skull; tail 

 thin, shorter than the head. Head and body about two and one-half inches 

 long ; tail .75 inch ; hind foot about .42. Color above, iron-gray, glossed 

 with dark olive-brown ; beneath, light-ash, or brownish-gray ; tail bioolor, 

 in harmony with the body areas. Dentition : \Zj; pm. 4:| ; m. |:|=::VI=30. 



Distribution. — Southern States; north to Pennsylvania; also, at Irving- 

 ton, Indiana (Dr. D. S. Jordan). Occurring at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 

 and in central Indiana, this species most probably is found in southern, 

 or even central Ohio. I give it not as a known resident of Ohio, but as 

 ,a species without reasonable doubt occurring there. 



The specimen in Dr. D. S. Jordan's collection, taken at Irving^ 

 ton, Marion county, Indiana, is somewhat flattened by pressure, and 

 has the back part of the skull crushed. The body is rather slender, 



