40 INSECTIVORA. 



Subgenus 2. Cbossopus. 



Lower incisors not toothed ; upper incisors hooked. The 

 two first intermediate teeth equal, the third a little smaller, 

 the fourth rudimentary ; the points of all the teeth more or 

 less brown; their total number is 30. Ears velvety, 

 much shorter than the fur ; tail more or less compressed 

 for a portion of its length, clothed with short, equal hairs ; 

 feet wide, fringed with stiff hairs, adapted for swimming. 

 All the species are aquatic, swimming and diving with ease. 

 Their fur is dense. 



Sorex fodiens. 



Sorex fodiens, De Selys, Microinm. ; Bell, Brit. Quad. 

 The Water Shrew. 



Description. — Stouter than S. aranews. The tail as long 

 as, or slightly shorter than, the body, compressed for almost 

 its whole length, blackish, composed of scaly rings, bordered 

 beneath by a fringe of stiff whitish hairs. Fur velvet- 

 black above, contrasting with the lower parts of the body, 

 which are white or whitish, sometimes with a tinge of 

 reddish or ash; the edges of the lips, and a very small 

 spot behind the eye, are also whitish ; feet covered with 

 very short, dark, ashy hairs, fringed with stiff, closely 

 pressed, whitish hairs ; snout thick ; whiskers black. 



The above is the normal appearance of this species. 



Var. A. Belly distinctly tinged with yellow, and the 

 separation of the two colours less decided. In this state 

 it approaches a similar variety of S. ciliatus ; but the ears 

 are black, or dark, and the white spot behind the eye of 

 S. fodiens is present. 



Var. B. Without a white spot behind the eye. This 

 variety is of rare occurrence. 



Entire length, 5 inches 5 lines ; body, 3 inches 2 lines ; 

 tail, 2 inches 3 lines. Some individuals from the shores of 



