1855.] A Memoir on the Indian species of Shrews. 33 



tion — " Snout to vent, less 2 in. : tail, 1 T \ in. i head, \^ in. : palma, 

 j in. : planta, f in. Structure typical, save that no odorous glands 

 were detected, nor had the animal any musky smell. Colour sooty- 

 brown, paler below. .Naked parts of a dusky fleshy hue. Hab. 

 ]N"epal, where it " dwells in coppices and fields, and is rarely found 

 in houses." 



Of numerous specimens of minute Sorices, from various locali- 

 ties, the only one which approaches to the above description is a 

 species which we have just procured in Calcutta ; curiously enough 

 while engaged in the investigation of this particular group. It may 

 be termed 



11. S. melanodon, nobis, n. s. : from the remarkable colouring 

 of its teeth, which are piceous and ivhite-tipped ; exhibiting thus 

 the reverse coloration of those of Corsira, &c. Length of adult 

 female 1£ in. ; tail 1~q in. : hind foot and claws T 5 ^ in. Colour 

 uniform fuscous, without any rufous tinge ; scarcely paler below : 

 the feet and tail subnude, save the usual scattered fine long hairs 

 upon the latter ; and, with the ears and snout, of a livid colour, 

 paler below : claws white and distinctly visible. Procured by one 

 of our museum assistants in his own house, where he states that he 

 has observed and can probably obtain others. 



12. S. micronyx, nobis, n. s. Length of head and body If in. \ 

 tail somewhat exceeding 1\ in. : hind-foot and claws, if in. : skull 

 | in. Teeth white. Claws with fine hairs impending them, and so 

 minute as to be scarcely discernible without a lens. Fur of a paler 

 and more chesnut brown than any other of these minute species 

 examined, and also more silvery below. Feet and tail subnude, or 

 thinly furred, shewing the colour of the skin through ; browner 

 above, whitish (or perhaps flesh-coloured) below. Of two speci- 

 mens in our museum, one in spirit, the other now dried, the latter 

 was obtained by the late Major Wroughton in Kemaon, the former 

 by L. C. Stewart, Esq. of II. M. 61st foot, at Landour ; where he 

 informs us that he picked up many of them dead, on the surface of 

 the snow, during the severe winter of 1850-5 1 . 



Act. Acad. Leop. Vol. XIII, pt. 2, t. 25 (1827) ; and the species is widely different 

 from all the pygmy Shrews here described, and is evidently a Corsira. 



F 



