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GENUS SOREX— Linn. 
DENTAL FORMULA. 
Incisive Lateral incisive or false Canine from Molar from ; 
from 26 to 34 teeth. 
Incisive teeth in the upper jaw indented at their base ; in the lower, 
proceeding horizontally from their aveoli and turned upwards towarfs 
their points where they are usually of a brown colour ; lateral incisive 
or false canine, conical, small, shorter than the cheek-teeth. 
Muzzle and nose, much elongated ; snout, moveable. Ears and eyes, 
small ; pendactylous ; nails, hooked. A series of glands along the flanks, 
exuding a scented unctuous matter. 
The generic name is derived from the Latin word Sorex, a Shrew, 
field rat. 
Authors have described about twenty-three species of Shrews, twenty 
existing on the Eastern continent and thirteen in N. America. Many 
of these species are not as yet determined, we can scarcely doubt 
from past discoveries that this number will in time be greatly increased. 
They are, no doubt, susceptible of being arranged into different groups 
and genera. 
We know no genus in which the American naturalist has a greater 
prospect of success in adding new species than that of Sorex. 
SOREX PARVUS.— Sat. 
Say’s Least Shrew. 
PLATE LXX. Natural Size. 
S. supra fuscenti-cinereus, infra cinereus ; dentibus nigricaudatus ; cauda 
brevi, sub-cylindrica. 
VOL. II. — 19. 
