MAMMALIA, 7 
the temperature sinks 40 or 50 degrees below zero. The Sorex Forsteri ap- 
proaches the S. tetragonurus of Desmarest in dimensions, and agrees with it in 
some other points. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Dental formula, interm. incisors , lateral incisors =, grinders =, = 32. 
The teeth are white, brightly tinged with chestnut brown on the points, The upper 
intermediary incisors have each a posterior obtuse lobe. The lateral incisors of the upper 
jaw are crowded and somewhat tiled ; the four anterior ones of a side are broad and obtusely 
conical, the fifth is flattish on the crown. The first grinder is smaller than either of the two 
which succeed it; and the fourth is the smallest of all. In the lower jaw the intermediary 
incisors have two distinct obtuse posterior lobes, and a slight undulation producing the rudi- 
ment of a lobe towards their points: the lateral incisors, have a central mammillary point ; 
and the anterior grinder isa little larger than the other two. The muzzle is very slender, 
and has a naked and a deeply lobed tip. The whiskers reach to the occiput, and are 
composed of a few white hairs, intermixed with many black ones. The car is as long 
as the fur of the head, and is clothed within and without, but particularly on its 
margins, and folds, with hairs of the same colour and length of those on the crown of 
the head. It is rounded, but from a small fold of its upper margin appears pointed. Its 
circumference is ample for the size of the animal. There is a semicircular lobe projecting 
from the inferior margin of the ear, and covering the auditory opening, and above it there isa 
_transverse fold. The ear is not perceptible until the fur is blown aside. The fur forms a 
fine, short, close coat, which on the dorsal aspect of the animal has a grayish-brown or clove- 
brown colour, and on the ventral aspect a dull yellowish-brown. The tail is four-sided 
and tapers gradually from the root to its extremity, which is terminated by a pencil of 
hairs. It is covered with dark-brown hair above, and pale, yellowish-brown hair beneath, 
The feet are five-toed, and are clothed with short, adpressed, pale yellowish-brown hairs. 
The nails are slender and white. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. Inches. Lines, 
Length of head and body . - 2 3 Length from upper incisors to nostrils. 0 2 
a3) Of tail, U2 5 4 C 1 3 Height of the ear : é 2 3 0 2 
> of head 2 ° ’ . « 0 9% 
