MAMMALIA. 5 
[3.] 1. Sorex Patustris. (Richardson.) American Marsh-Shrew. 
Genvs. Sorex. Linn, 
Sorex palustris, RicHarpDson. Zoological Journal, No. xii. April, 1828. 
S. (palustris ) caudé corpus longitudine excedenti, auriculis subvestitis vellere latentibus, corpore cinerascenti-nigro ; 
subter cinereo. 
Shrew, with the tail longer than the body, short hairy ears concealed by the fur, back somewhat hoary-black, belly 
ash-gray. 
DESCRIPTION. 
The dimensions of this animal are nearly the same with those of the Musaraigne de 
Daubenton, or Water Shrew of Pennant, and are considerably greater than those of the 
S. constrictus, with which it seems to have some relations. 
Dental formula ; intermediary incisors 2, lateral incisors $=} grinders = = 30. 
‘The two posterior lateral incisors are smaller than the two anterior ones on the same side, 
and the latter are a little longer than the posterior lobes of the intermediary incisors. All the 
lateral incisors have small lobes on their inner sides. The tips of the teeth have a shining 
chestnut-brown colour, 
Form.—The muzzle is shorter in proportion and broader than that of the Sorex parvus. 
The whole upper lip is bordered with whiskers, and the tips of the posterior ones, which are 
the longest, reach behind the ears. The extremity of the muzzle is naked and two-lobed. 
The eyes are visible. The ear is shorter than the fur ; its inferior margin is folded in; there is 
a heart-shaped lobe covering the auditory opening, and a transverse fold above it. The ears, 
particularly the superior margins, are clothed with thick tufts of fur, like that on the rest of 
the head. The tail appears to be rounded, or slightly four-sided from its base, to near the 
tip, where it is compressed and terminated by a small pencil of hairs. It is covered by a close 
coat of short hair. The feet are clothed with rather coarse, short, adpressed hairs, those on 
the sides of the toes being arranged somewhat in a parallel manner, but not very distinctly. 
The fur resembles that of the mole in softness, closeness, and lustre. On the superior 
or dorsal aspect it is black, with a slightly hoary appearance when turned to the light. On 
the ventral aspect it is ash-coloured. At the roots it is bluish-gray. The outside of the 
thighs and upper surface of the tail correspond in colour with the back, the under surface of 
the tail and inside of the thighs with the belly, The feet are paler than the back and a little 
hoary. The nails are whitish, 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. Inches. Lines. 
Length from nose to origin of tail 5 3 6 Length of nose, from upper incisors, scarcely 0 2 
=» of tail 2 7 Height of ear c . . » » 0 3 
>» Of head , & ry, ee 1 2 Length of hind-foot from heel to end of the 
>» fromnosetoeye . A : 0 7 nails 4 , ; ~..0 9 
