SCIENTIFIC RESULTS FROM THE MAMMAL SURVEY. 1053 
of the Mammal Survey can thus be shown to have come from Darjiling. The 
exception is a specimen collected, probably about 1838, by Major Pemberton 
in “ Boot an ” (No. 79.11.21.484 ) and received from the India Museum. 
The Mammal Survey has now obtained the species in Kumaon and in Nepal. 
On laying all the material out, rather well marked geographical variation be- 
comes visible in the colour and to some extent in the size and proportions. Four 
forms would seem now to be recognizable, namely, two in Sikkim, true nigrescens 
from moderate elevations (up to 7,40(y) and a somewhat larger form from 
greater altitudes (up to 12,300') ; one in Nepal ; and one in Kumaon. 
SORICULUS NIGRESCENS NIGRESCENS. 
Sorex sikimensis, Hodgson. 
As explained above, Darjiling is the type locality and no doubt, as regards 
the type specimen and those collected by Hodgson “ Darjiling, ” refers actually 
to the towm and its immediate vicinity, rather than to the district at large. But 
as regai-ds the specimens collected by Blanford “ Darjiling ” would seem to in- 
dicate the district. The material now before me Horn this district is extremely 
rich for in addition to the early specimens already mentioned we have no fewer 
than 83 collected at various stations by the Mammal Suiwey. Of these modern 
specimens 57 were collected at stations around Darjiling, lying at various heights 
between 3,500' (Pashok) and 7,400' (Ghoom). These agree exactly with the 
type of nigrescens, -with Hodgson’s specimens, and with most of those collected 
by Blanford, in having the hindfoot measurement between 14 and 15mm. and 
the condylo-basal length of the skull between 21.3 and 22.6 mm. The 
general colour is dark, near “ chsetura black”, more or less overcast with red- 
dish brow'n above and below ; the effect produced being richer and darker than 
in the subspecies inhabiting Kumaon, though less sombre than in that from 
Nepal described below. As regards proportions, in a series of 36 specimens, the 
average lengths of the tail and hindfoot were found to equal respectively 51.5 
and 17.8% of the head and body length, but these figures are of course, subject 
to considerable individual variation. 
As to higher stations Lachen (8,800') and Gnatong (12,300') these shrews 
were found to be distinctly larger tlian in those from the lower altitudes. These 
may be regarded as representing a distinct subspecies which may be called 
Soriculus nigrescens pahari, subsp. n. 
Distinguished from the typical form by its slightly larger size and (in the type 
locality) by its lighter colour. 
Size rather large (Head and Body. 82-93, HF. 15-16, condylo-basal length of 
skull 21.9-23.3mm.) Tail relatively shorter than in n. nigrescens its average 
length in Gnatong specimens equal to 46.5% instead of 51.5% of the head and 
body measurement. 
Colour (in Gnatong specimens) lighter and browmer than in n. nigrescens 
approaching the “ deep olive ” of Ridgway. Specimens from Lachen arc as 
large as those from Gnatong, (“dark greyish olive”) and have rather 
longer tails, (averaging 50^o of tbe head and body measurement) ; in these 
respects they approach n. nigrescens. 
Habitat. — Sikkim, at elevations above 8000'. 
Type: — -Adult female B. M. No. 15.9.1.56. Original No. 5704. Collected 
by Mr. C. A. Crump, Oct. 29th, 1914, at Gnatong, Sikkim, Altitude 12,300'. 
Remarks : — -Two of Blanford’s “ Darjiling ” specimens (90.1.1.5 & 9) are larger 
than the others and evidently belong to the present form. In all ])robability 
they were obtained from one of the higher points in the Darjiling district. 
