caociDURA. 177 



Witli regard to the food o£ this animal and of its allies 

 generally, it is noteworthy that Is. Geoff. St. Hilaire states 

 on the authority of Belanger, that the large shrew at Pon- 

 dichery " ferait de grands deg^ts dans les magasins de riz." 

 Being aware that the natives of Bengal generally assert 

 that the musk shrew is a great eater of rice and of pulse, 

 I procured a few alive to watch their habits. I found them, 

 as was to be expected, thoroughly nocturnal, spending, the 

 day in sound slumbers when undisturbed, but wakiag up 

 at nightfall, when they became very restless, I placed 

 rice beside them, but it was always left untouched, whereas 

 cockroaches were eaten with avidity. I have examined the 

 contents of the stomachs of a large number of specimens, 

 and have fouad traces of hair, ants, larvae of flies, and flies 

 themsehres and bits of flesh, and a tapeworm. 1 am there- 

 fore disposed to believe that Belanger was entirely wrong in 

 aseribing to these animals depredations wholly attributable 

 to rodents. 



229a ^ h. Two stuffed adults, Nos. 244A & B of Blyth's 

 Catalogae. Calcutta. 



c. The skeleton of an adult female. No, 244C of Blyth's 

 Catalogue. Calcutta. 



d. The skull of a male, No. 2440 of Blyth's Catalogue. 

 Calcutta. 



" e 8f f. Two adult males in alcohol and the skull of e. 

 Royal Botanical Gardens, Howrah. Presented by Dr. J. 

 Anderson, 1867. 



g. An adolescent male in alcohol and its skull. Ceylon. 

 Presented by H. Nevill, Esq., 36th February 1871. 



h toj. Three newly born females in, alcohol. Calcutta. 

 Purchased, 14th August 1871. 



k 8^ I. Two adult males in alcohol. Purneah> Museum 

 Collector, March 1872. 



m to p. An adult male and female, and one adolescent female, • 

 and another -gravid, in alcohol, and the skulls of « ^ ;». 

 Fathigurh. . Presented by Andrew Anderson, Esq., 22nd 

 April 1872. 



q 8f r. An adult male and an adult female in alcohol and 

 the skull of q. Calcutta. Presented by Dr. J. Anderson, 

 22nd July 1872. _ , 



s. An adult male in alcohol and its skull imperfect. Purneah. 

 Presented by G. W. Shillingford, Esq., 23rd August 1872. 



t. An adult male in alcohol and its skull. Colombo, Cey- 

 lon. Presented by Dr, J. Anderson, October 1872. The 



