of the British Shews. 41 



of our common water shrew, it will be found that they do not agree 

 in all particulars. Some of these variations may be due to acciden- 

 tal causes, or to differences of age or sex in the respective cases. 

 Nevertheless, the circumstance is worth mentioning, as affording a 

 stimulus to the researches of those naturalists who may be inclined 

 to turn their attention to these animals. * 



Reference to the Figures. Plate I. 



In the annexed plate are given representations of the crania, and 

 of portions of the upper and lower jaw, of the S. araneus and fodiens 

 of Duvernoy, and of the similarly named species of British authors. 

 The figures relating to the continental species are copied from Du- 

 vernoy's memoir, and are inserted for the purpose of comparison with 

 our own. 



The species are severally distinguished by the Roman numerals 

 I. II. III. IV. as explained at the bottom of the plate. When these 

 numerals are simple, the objects are represented of their natural 

 size. When accompanied by a dash (I'. II'. &c.) they are to be 

 considered as magnified to twice their natural size. 



The Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, indicate the numbers of the several kinds 

 of teeth. 



The letters refer to different views of the head, and jaws, and are 

 the same for each species : 



a. Is the cranium viewed from above. 



b. The same viewed from beneath. 



c. Is the anterior portion of the same viewed in profile. 



d. Is a branch of the lower jaw, viewed externally. 



e. The same viewed from within. 



It should be mentioned that in the case of 1, d and e are those of 

 a young individual. 



f. Is intended to represent the mode of union of the two upper 

 middle incisors as seen from the above, the occiput being turned to- 

 wards the spectator. 



f*. Relates to Var. 1, of the British araneus, in which these in- 

 cisors were worn down to their point of contact. 



S waff ham Bulbech, 

 Feb. 18, 1837. 



* See in particular a notice in Loud. Mag. Vol. hi. p. 471, of a shrew taken 

 near Liverpool, which the writer was unable to identify with either of our two 

 well-known British species. 



