COaSIHA ALPINA. 61 



Gen, CoKsiEA, Gray. 



Syn. AmpMsorex, Duvemoy. 



Char. — Lower incisors distinctly serrated, with three or four points ; 

 anterior point of upper incisors not prolonged beyond a level with its 

 posterior spur; the lateral small teeth following in the upper jaw are 

 five, gradually diminishing in size from the first backwards ; tail cylindri- 

 cal, not tapering, furnished with a stiff brush at the tip ; teeth tipped with 

 ferruginous. 



84. Corsira alpina. 



Sorex apud Schinz. — S. caudatus, Hodgson. — Blyth, Cat. 261. 

 The Alpine Sheew. 



Descr. — Deep blackish-brown, very slightly refuscent in certain lights ; 

 tail slender, nearly naked, very slightly attenuated, equal in length to the 

 head and body ; compressed at the tip. 



Length, head and body 2 J inches ; tail 2-J. 



Mr. Tomes has identified this species with the Alpine shrew of Europe, 

 to which indeed Blyth had previously noted its close affinity. It has only 

 been procured, I believe, from the neighbourhood of Darjeehng. 



Sorex vulgaris L., and S. pyqmcBus, Pallas, of Europe, belong to this 

 group, and there are several American members of it, some of which, with 

 a shorter tail, were named Brachysorex by Duvemoy, and others with pro- 

 minent ears, Otisorex, by Dekay. 



Sorex macropus, Blyth, from Ceylon, has been made the type of Fero- 

 culus, by Kelaart. It has a thick tapering tail, strong feet, and ears almost 

 concealed. It is of large size. 



The genus Myogalea (olim Mygale) or musk-rat, of which there are two 

 species in Europe, is another genus of this family. They have long car- 

 tilaginous snouts, a long scaly tail, and are aquatic in their habits. Solen- 

 odon paradoxus of the "West Indies, previously alluded to, has the habit 

 of a large shrew, with a long naked tail, and is placed in the family by 

 some naturalists. 



Fam. ERiNACEiDiE, Hedgehogs. 



Back protected by spines, or rigid bristles with setoe intermixed ; feet 

 pentadactylous, not fossorial ; tail very short or none. 



The body of the hedgehogs is short, thick, and stout, and the muzzle 

 is less pointed than in the other groups of this order. The cranium is said 



