Insectivoka. MAMMALIA- ^Insectivoea. 
XXX 
tlie third, and equals the basal hook of the anterior 
one. The fifth is smallest. All the teeth are colored 
at the tip. The tail is longer than the body, with a 
pencil of hairs at its end. 
NAVIGATOK SHREW {Neosorex navigator). — This 
species is described by Prof. Baird from a skin sent 
to the Smithsonian Institution, tiy Dr. Cooper, which 
he procured at Fort Vancouver, W. T. It is said to 
very neaily resemble the S. fimbripes of Bachman, 
but may be distinguished by its longer tail, which is 
nearly one half longer than the body, instead of being 
shorter. The hind feet are much longer. The fur 
is very long and full, and is extremely soft ; its color 
above and on the sides is a mixed, hoary and smohy 
brown. 
SOREX. 
This genus is common to both Continents, and em- 
braces the larger portion of existing species. 
TROWBRIDGE’S SOREX [Sorex trowhridgii) has a 
slender body, elongated, with a snout broad, depressed 
and pointed. Its whiskers are numerous, moderately 
long, and light colored. The ears are unusually large. 
The fore-feet are large in proportion, and quite broad. 
'I’lie palms are broad ; and the tail is the length of 
the body. The color is a dark sooty brown or black, 
intermixed with hoary. Its habitat is principally in 
the North Western 'J’erritories ; it is not found east 
of the Rocky Mountains, being as common on the 
Pacific side as Scalops aquaticus is on the Atlantic. 
THE VAGRANT SHREW [Sorex From 
Dr. Cooper’s ms., the present species has been de- 
scribed, and also from skins sent from the Western 
Territories to the Smithsonian Institution. S. va- 
grans is characterized by having the ears moderately 
large ; fur rather long and full ; feet rather small ; tail 
longer than the body, scantily haired at the tip. The 
third lateral tooth above is smaller than the fourth. 
The anterior, upper incisor has a rounded internal 
lobe, in broad contact with its fellow. The color 
above is olive-brown, varied with hoary ; beneath, it 
is dusky yellowish-white. Sides are a little paler 
than the back. Head and body measure two inches ; 
tail one and two thirds. The teeth are all chestnut 
colored at the tips. 
SUCKLEY’S SHREW [Sorex siicTdeyi).— V\\\s. differs 
from the preceding in being of a chestnut-brown, 
instead of an olive-brown color ; the belly is less pure 
in its lighter parts. Its fur is much shorter, the feet 
smaller, the skull broader, and ears considerably 
smaller, ff'he species is named for Dr. George Suck- 
ley, one of the naturalists connected with the Western 
expeditions. Tlie color above is a light chestnut- 
brown ; beneath, it is grayish-white. Its length is 
two and a quarter inches ; tail one and a half. 
THICK-TAILED SHREW [Sorex ymc/ryiH-ws).— This 
is readily distinguished from the others by its full fur, 
thick tail, large feet, &c. It is found in the North 
Western States. Baird describes it as a new species, 
and remarks: “The body of this species appears 
unusually stout and full, owing to the length of the 
fur, which exceeds that of any American species with 
which I am acquainted, measuring on the back five 
lines. Its large feet and claws, and very thick tail, 
are also highly characteristic. The tail appears very 
thick, as much so as in Mus musculus. All the teeth 
are chestnut in color at the tips.” 
FORSTER’S SHREW [Sorex forsteri). — This is one of 
the older and well-known species. It was first noticed 
by Forster, in the Trans. Acad. Nat. Sciences of Phil. 
It is found in the Eastern States, being quite common 
in New York. It is small, of a dark cinereous color, 
tipped with brown ; beneath, it is cinereous. Its fur 
is short ; ears broad and hairy. 'I'ail is nearly as long 
as the body. In length it is four inches. DeKay 
gives the following description : “ Body slender; nose 
elongated and divided at the tip ; whiskers long, white 
and black ; fur fine and short; feet slender, with five 
white and slender toes ; tail four-sided, with a slight 
pencil of hairs at the tip.” 
RICHARDSON’S SHREW [Sorex richardsonii ). — 
Baird I’ecords the present species, with the following 
remarks : “ A single skin of what I believe to corres- 
pond to the S. richardsonii of Bachman, has a consid- 
erable resemblance to S. forsteri, but is larger, and the 
tail shorter in proportion. Like it, the ears are small 
for this group, less than in the much smaller S.cooperi. 
The tail is shorter than the body, exclusive of the 
head, but scantily provided with hair. 'I’he hairs of 
the back are very short, only about 0.15 of an inch. 
There is a distinct gland on the side, about one third 
of an inch long, and one twentieth wide, covered with 
short, close, silky hairs, indicating the position of the 
musk gland. The color above is a rusty iron-gray, 
the under parts lighter.” 
THE BROAD-NOSED SHREW [Sorex platyrrUnus). 
This little species is thought to be closely allied to 
the Long-nosed Shrew of Bachman, but differs in 
general color, larger size, and its proportionally longer 
tail. De Kay, in Natural History of New York 
Mammals, speaks of a specimen found by j\Ir. Bell at 
Tappan, in Rockland County. It was captured 
in a cellar of an old house, was exceedingly agile, and 
when excited, emitted a shrill, twittering squeak. It 
ate greedily of flesh, but died in a few days. It seems 
quite unaccountable why certain animals die so quick- 
ly after capture, though they may be well cared for, 
and seemingly, no harm has been done them. The 
Broad-nose is so minute that it has gained the repu- 
tation of being one of the smallest quadrupeds on the 
Continent, the weight of one specimen being only 47 
grains. In distribution, it is known to range from East- 
ern Massachusetts to Ohio, and as far north as Burling- 
ton, Yt. Its specific characters are : ears large and 
conspicuous, tail scarcely longer than the body, and 
only scantily provided with hair. The upper pre- 
molars are imbricated anteriorly, and decreasing 
gradually in size. Color above, chestnut or dark 
brown ; beneath, pale cinereous. Length over two 
inches; tail scarcely exceeding one and a half inches. 
The ears are large, and generally very distinctly vis- 
ible. 
COOPER’S SHREW [Sorex cooper i). — This is another 
of a group of Shrews that have considerable resem- 
blance to each other. ’I'heir habits are not well 
known, consequently there is little to be recorded. 
