180 



Blarina (Soeiciscus) paeva. (Say), Jordan. 

 Least Shrew. 



On page 98 of this report I have given this species, "not as a. known 

 resident of Ohio, but as :i species, without reasonable doubt, occurring 

 there," basing this assumption on its occurrence at Carlisle, Pennsylva- 

 nia, and at Irvington, Marion county, Indiana, where Dr. D. S Jordan 

 took a specimen in 1874, which is now in my possession. 



Since then I am enabled, through Mr. F. W. Langdon, to verify the. 

 range ascribed in the body of the report. Under date of Madisonville, 

 Hamilton county, Ohio, January 19th, 1879, Mr. Langdon writes me that 

 among some shrews forwarded bj' him to Dr. Coues for examination was 

 a specimen of the Least Shrew, also two specimens of the Short-tailed 

 Shrew, all from Madisonville. Of the Least Shrew Mr. Langdon says : 

 "This is a species of considerable interest, having been originally de- 

 scribed by Say as Sorex parvus. Dr. Coues writes me in regard to it." 

 "^Sorex parvUrS, Say,' has never been identified, but for years has been 

 kicked around promiscuously among all the northern species of the fam- 

 ily. :!: * I have not the slightest doubt that you have the veritable 

 animal of Say, in the specimen you send.'' 



The opinion of Dr. Coues is based on the examination of both the 

 skin and skull of Mr. Langdon's specimen. The skull of the specimen 

 secured by Dr. Jordan was, unfortunately, mutilated by the cat who 

 caught it, but the species is identified beyond question. 



The occurrence of the Least Shrew in both Ohio and Indiana is 

 worthy of note, as the geographical distribution of the species of Sorex 

 and Blarina has been but little studied, and indeed the number of spe- 

 cies of these genera is yet uncertain. Harlan describes a female speci- 

 men, and gives the habitat as "Council Bluffs, Missouri." 



Mr. Langdon's specimen of the Hairy-tailed Mole, Scapamis breweri, 

 taken in Adams county, Ohio, carries the distribution of this species 

 farther south than has been previously recorded. 



The Wolf and Wild Cat. 



Regarding the occurrence of the Wild Cat and Wolf at the present 

 day in Ohio, I insert a paragraph from the Ohio State Journal of Decem- 

 ber 20th, 1878. I have written to the parties, but as yet have no confir- 

 mation of the circumstances as stated : 



" iVolf im the Woods. — At this season of the year fox hunts and other sports of the 

 forest are in vogue in the country, but even iu this thickly settled part of the country 

 savage beasts that Lave more than fun iu their prowling around are occasionally met. It 

 will be remembered that about this time last year there was great excitement in Union 



