SAY’S LEAST SHREW. 
149 
was obtained in the far West and described by Say, and that of Richard- 
son from the far north, and ours from the vicinity of New-York, are 
obtained and compared and their dental system carefully examined, it 
will he ascertained that they are three distinct species, and our suc- 
cessors will be surprised that the old authors gave to the Shrews so 
wide a geographical range. 
Say’s description is subjoined for convenient comparison. “ Body 
above brownish cinereous, beneath cinereous ; head elongated, eyes and 
ears concealed; whiskers long, the longest nearly attaining the back 
of the head ; nose naked emarginate ; front teeth black, lateral ones 
piceous ; feet whitish, five-toed ; nails prominent, acute, white ; tail 
short, sub-cylindrical, of moderate thickness, slightly thicker in the mid- 
dle — whitish beneath. Length of head and body, two inches four 
lines, of tail, 0.75.” Richardson’s animal was according to his descrip- 
tion, dark brownish grey above, and grey beneath. Length of head 
and body two inches three lines, tail one inch. 
