528 
MUSK SHREW. 
Sorex Moschatus. S. pedibus palmatis, cauda compressa lanceO" 
lata, Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p, 113, 
Web-footed Shrew, with naked compressed tail. 
Castor Moschatus. C. cauda longa compresso-lanceolata, pedibus 
palmatis. Lin. Syst. Nat. p, 79. 
Mus aquaticus. Clus exot. p. 37^. Jonst. Quadr.p. 169. 73. 
Mus aquatilis. Aldr. dig. p, j^^'j, 
Pallas, it. I. p. 156. Lepeckin, it. i.p. 178. t. 13. Guldenst^dt^ 
Berl. Naturf. Beschr. ^. p. io'].t. i. 
Desman. Buff. 10. p. i.pl, 10. 
Musky Shrew. Pennant Quadr. 2 . 2 2 1 » 
This is a very singular species, which, though 
extremely common in some of the northern parts 
of Europe and Asia^ does not seem to have been 
very distinctly understood by modern naturalists, 
till Dr. Pallas, Lepechin, and Guldenstedt gave 
accurate descriptions of its form and manners. It 
was, indeed, long ago described in a general man- 
ner by Clusius, who has also given a figure, which 
is repeated by Aldrovandus, Jonston, and others; 
nor is it to be denied that both figure and de- 
scription are so far just as to discriminate the ani- 
mal from every other at that time known. 
According to Dr. Pallas it chiefly inhabits the 
river Volga and the adjacent lakes, from Novo- 
gorod to Saratof ; and is not found in Russia, nor 
does its existence in Lapland seem well ascer- 
tained. It is said to be very seldom seen on 
land ; confining itself to lakes and rivers, in the 
banks of which it occasionally burrows to a great 
