64 the Zoologist* 



and then, in default of araneus, some naturalists took Sorex 

 vulgaris from a technically untenable work,* while others, amongst 

 whom was Alston, knowing vulgaris to be unavailable, and not 

 venturing to try and change the name of the White-toothed Shrew, 

 took the next name having priority for the Brown-toothed Shrew, 

 Sorex tetragonurus, Herm.f 



But I venture to think that it was a mistake for these 

 naturalists to be so half-hearted in the matter, and that had they 

 then said, as I do now, that we ought to go back to Linnseus's 

 name Sorex araneus for the Brown-toothed Shrew, and to take 

 the next pertinent name, Sorex 7'ussulus, Herm., for the White- 

 toothed Shrew, the world would soon have followed their example, 

 and all further confusion and misunderstanding would have been 

 avoided. 



I would therefore suggest, as it is never too late to mend, that 

 all British zoologists should now make a point of using the name 

 " Sorex araneus" for our Common Shrew, especially when writing 

 in such publications as 'The Zoologist,' through the medium of 

 which this correct term will soon gain general currency. And in 

 the same way Crocidura russula should be used for the common 

 continental White-toothed Shrew. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 

 The Kames of the Mole.— In the interesting communication on this 

 subject by Prof. Strong (p. 11), the Scottish name is given (probably through 

 a misprint) as " moudie-wort." This should be of course "warp," being 

 the same as the early English given on the following page, the Lowland 

 Scots being an Anglo-Scandinavian dialect showing a close similarity with 

 the Icelandic. The modern Dano-Norwegian is muldvarpe ; but there is 

 another synonym in Danish, which may be compared with Lloyd's Welsh 

 name twrch daeor, "earth-hog"; it is marsvin, "pig of the elves," both 

 names, no doubt, arising from the elongated suout of the Mole somewhat 

 resembling that of a pig. The last part, " warp," seems to be the same as 

 " warp," to twist or throw aside, and may arise either from the position of 



* Linnaeus, Mus. Ad- Frid. p. 10, 1754. 



| Faun. Scotl., Mamm. p. 9, 1880; see also Proc. Zool. Soc, 1877, 

 » 272, footnote 1. 



