﻿Dec, 1895] 



HISTORY OF EASTERN SHREWS. 



41 



result; probably of long exposure. The teeth are so worn that the 

 incisors are reduced to mere stubs. In spite of all this, there can be no 

 doubt that the specimen is a typical Sorex personatiis. The hmd foot 

 measures 11 mm. 



The next reference to Sorex personatiis was made by Gapper, who 

 described and figured the animal under the name 8o7'ex forsteri in 

 the Zoological Journal for 1830. Gapper's specimens came from the 

 region between York and Lake Simcoe, Ontario. 



The Sorex coopen which Bachman named in 1837 is without doubt 

 the present species. 



Bachman's Sorex Jimhripes, described in the same paper with S. rich- 

 ardsoni and S. cooperi, is said by Dr. Ooues,^ who has examined the 

 supposed type, to be a perfectly normal Sorex per sonatus. How Bach- 

 man could see in such a specimen the remarkable characters ascribed 

 to S. fimhripes is beyond comprehension. On Bachman's account of 

 S. fimhripes is based the generic name Eydrogale Fomel. ^ The type 

 of Sorex fimhripes was collected in Lycoming County, Pa,, on Drurys 

 Run, a branch of the Schuylkill Eiver. 



The Ampliisorex lesiieuri of Duvernoy^ from Indiana, is apparently 

 an abnormal example of Sorex personatus. It is said to have a whitish 

 streak running from the eye to the corner of the mouth. 



Sorex platijrhinchus Liiisley and Otisorex platyrUnus De Kay have 

 been discussed m detail under Sorex fumeiis. There can be no question 

 that both names are synonyms of Sorex personatus. 



In 1857 Baiid recognized five small Shrews from the eastern TJnited 

 States. Two of these — Sorex platyrhinus and >S'. cooperi — were based 

 on individual variations of the present species. Specimens with the 

 unicuspid teeth, as shown in PI. IV, fig. 5, were referred to S. cooperi^ 

 while those with the teeth, as in PI. lY, figs. 6 or 7, were called S. platy- 

 rhinus. At the same time Baird described as a new species Sorex hay- 

 deni^^ from Fort Buford, Dak. Certain slight peculiarities in a few 

 specimens from this general region indicate that Sorex haydeni may 

 eventually be recognized as a local race of aS'. personates. For the 

 present, however, the forms are best united under the latter name. 



From 1857 to 1890 Sorex personatus has been referred to as S. cooperi^ 

 S. platyrhinus^ or S. personatus indifferently. In 1890, however, Dr. 

 Dobson added to the list of synonyms by figuring the teeth of an indi- 

 vidual from Halifax, l^ova Scotia, under the name Sorex richardsoni.^ 

 - The next year Dr. Merriam described specimens from Idaho as a new 

 species, Sorex idahoensis.^ 



• Ball. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Surr., Ill, No. 3. 

 2 Arcbiv. Sci. Pbys. and Nat., Geneve, IX, 248, Nov., 1848. 

 ^Magasin de Zoologie, Mamm., p. 33, PI. L, 1842. 

 ^Mamm. N. Am., p. 29. 



^Mou. Insectivora, Part III, fasc. 1, PI. XXIII, fig. 9. 

 •'North American Fauna, No. 5, p. 32. 



