6 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 
This animal agrees with the S. constrictus in having two lateral incisors more 
in the upper jaw than some other species of the genus, but the Sorex brevicaudus 
of Say is described by Dr. Harlan as having five lateral incisors (‘ minute false 
molars ”’) on each side, and the same thing occurs in the following species. 
When compared with a specimen of the water-shrew in the British Museum, the 
colour of its fur appeared different, the points of the teeth darker, the ears smaller, 
and the tail longer than in the water-shrew. Several specimens of this animal 
were obtained, but the descriptions were drawn up from the prepared skins, and 
some uncertainty consequently exists as to the true shape of the tail. The 
S. palustris most probably lives in the summer on similar food with the water- 
shrew ; but I am at a loss to imagine how it procures a subsistence during the 
six months of the year in which the countries it inhabits are covered with snow. 
It frequents borders of lakes, and Hearne tells us that it often takes up its abode 
in beaver houses. 
[4.] 2. Sorex Forsreri. (Richardson.) Forster's Shrew-Mouse. 
Shrew, No. 20. Forster. Phil. Trans, vol. lxii, p. 381. 
Sorex Forsteri. Ricuarpson. Zool. Journ. No. 12, April, 1828. 
Sorex (Forsteri,) cauda tetragona longitudine corporis, auriculis brevibus vestitis, dorso xerampelino, ventre murino. 
Forster’s Shrew-mouse, with a square tail as long as the body, short furry ears, back of a clove-brown colour, 
belly pale yellowish-brown. 
This little animal is common throughout the whole of the fur countries to the 
67th degree of latitude, and its minute foot-prints are seen every where in the 
winter, when the snow is sufficiently fine to retain the impression. I have often 
traced its pathway to a stalk of grass, by which it appears to descend from the 
surface of the snow, but a search for its habitation by removing the snow was 
invariably fruitless. I was unable to procure a recent specimen, and the following 
description is drawn up from one prepared by Mr. Drummond. It is the 
smallest quadruped the Indians are acquainted with, and they preserve skins 
of it in their conjuring bags. The power of generating heat must be very great 
in this diminutive creature to preserve its slender limbs from freezing when 
