68 



INSECTIVOEA 



and more abruptly turned outward. Foramen ovale appearing 

 rather conspicuously in region between hamular and postglenoid 

 process. Rudimentary zygomatic process of maxillary well 

 developed, essentially as in Sorex araneus. 



Teeth. — Though in general not strikingly different from those 

 of Sorex araneus the teeth show a tendency towards greater 

 elevation of the cusps as well as a more pronounced hooking 

 forward of the anterior upper incisor, peculiarities which impart 

 to the entire dentition, though particularly to the teeth lying 

 in front of the large premolars, an unmistakably prehensive 

 character. Anterior upper incisor with main hook more projecting 

 than in Sorex araneus ; posterior talon low though rather long, 

 its outline when viewed from the side somewhat triangular, its 

 height less than half that of main cusp and much less than that 

 of first unicuspid. Lower incisor more slender than that of 

 Sorex araneus, its cutting edge with only a single low, ill-defined 

 lobe near middle. Upper unicuspids large and strong, their 

 crowns when viewed from below decidedly longer than wide, 



truncate posteriorly, narrowed an- 

 teriorly and terminating in a slight 

 though evident point. In lateral 

 view the cusps appear to be more 

 slender and set further forward 

 than in Sorex araneus, and the 

 posterior part of crown is more 

 produced backward, the cingulum 

 often rising to a distinct postero- 

 internal angle or rudimentary cusp, 



particularly in first tooth. Spaces 

 Xeomys fodiens. Anterior teeth i , ,. 2 . - n L . 



in profile, x 5. between tips 01 unicuspids greater 



than in the European species of 

 Sorex. Each cusp is nearly terete, but with a small postero- 

 internal concavity continuous with the concave crushing area 

 which occupies postero-internal fourth of crown. The con 

 cave area of cusp and crown is bounded externally by a 

 low but distinct ridge extending to middle of posterior border 

 of crown. First and second unicuspids sub-equal ; third about 

 half as large as first or second though quite similar to 

 them in form ; fourth not half as large as third, in tooth- 

 row or crowded somewhat inward, always distinctly visible 

 from outer side, in contact posteriorly with large premolar. 

 Lower unicuspids relatively longer and lower than in Sorex 

 araneus, their form when viewed from the side much as in 

 Sorex alpinus, except that the first has a very rudimentary 

 posterior cusp. First somewhat more than half as large as 

 second, its general outline much the same as in corres- 

 ponding upper teeth. Second essentially as in Sorex araneus. 

 Larger cheek-teeth as in Sorex araneus, but main cusps higher 

 and hypocones better developed. Pigmentation of teeth about 



