36 A Memoir on the Indian species of Shrews. [No. 1. 



Another white-toothed Indian Shrew exists in the Crossopus 

 HiMALAYicus, Gray, to be noticed presently. "We feel much doubt 

 of its being correctly referred to Crossopus.* 



The greater number of small Shrews inhabiting the temperate 

 regions of Europe, Asia, and IN". America, have the teeth always 

 tipped with ferruginous or pitch-colour, a slender Mouse-like tail with 

 no scattered long hairs upon it, and (save in Otisoeex) the ear-conch 

 concealed amid the fur. There are two distinct types of dentition. 



In one, the upper quasi-incisors are much longer than their pos- 

 terior spur (as in restricted Sorex) ; and the lower have but a 

 single posterior spur more or less rudimental : the lateral small 

 teeth which follow in the upper jaw are four in number (as in re- 

 stricted Sorex) ; the first two being equal, the third somewhat 

 smaller, and the last (as usual in all Shrews) minute. With this 

 type of dentition, we distinguish 



1. Sorictjlus, nobis. "With the hind-feet of ordinary form and 

 proportions, unadapted for aquatic habits ; and the tail tapering and 

 a little compressed at its extremity. 



17. S. nigresce:n"S ; Corsira nigrescens, Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. 

 X, 261, (1812) : Sorex sihimensis, Hodgson, Horsfield's Catalogue, 

 (1851). Length of head and body, 3i in. ; of tail, If in. : hind- 

 feet and claws, f in. Number of caudal vertebrae, 15 (besides the 

 extreme tip). Colour throughout blackish, a little tinged with 

 rufous ; the feet and claws pale. Very common in Sikim ; and was 

 formerly sent by Mr. Hodgson to the Society's Museum and also 

 to the British Museum from Nepal. 



2. Crossopus, Wagler (v. Hyclrosorex, N. Duvernoy, and Pi- 

 nalia, Gray). With the hind-feet large and ciliated, and the tail 

 also compressed and ciliated beneath towards its extremity ; in 

 adaptation to aquatic habits. AT. B. S. eodiens, (v. hydrophilus), 

 Pallas, and other Water Shrews of Europe and N. America consti- 

 tute the types of this division ; and Dr. Gray refers to it a Hima- 

 layan species, which, haviug white teeth, we very much suspect will 



* Myosorex, Gray, is founded on a Cape species, the Sorex varius, Smuts, 

 with ear-conch concealed amid the fur, and a slender tail (without scattered long 

 hairs ?) : the teeth white, and the dentition slightly modified upon that of restrict- 

 ed Sorex : lower quasi-incisors " with an entire sharp upper edge." 



