Insectivoka. MAMMALIA. Insectivoea. 
xxxii 
similar in number and situation, but are larger and 
more distinct. Tail cylindrical, very slightly tapering. 
Total length, 4 inches; of the tail, 0.75; hind feet, 
0.75.” Specimens of this Shrew are described by 
Prof. Baird, from Illinois, Nebraska and Iowa. 
CAROLINA SHREW [Blaririd carolinensis). — This 
is the species described by Bachman as the Carolina 
Shrew. In size, it is considerably smaller than B. 
talpoides. Its body is stout, with large feet, anil a 
moderately pointed nose. The hand is large, broader 
than the foot, its claws being considerably longer. 
Soles naked, except on the heels. Tail is short, rather 
less than the head, with short bristly hairs forming a 
j)encil at tip. The color is a dark leaden-gray above, 
beneath a little paler, with a faint gloss of dark sooty- 
brown on the tips of the hairs above, and a very slight 
hoariness produced by a paler bar near the tips of the 
hairs above. This species differs from brevicauda in 
having much smaller hands and longer tail. Its body 
is somewhat smaller. This Shrew is common in the 
Southern States. 
NARROW-HEADED SHREW {B. angusticepfi).— 
Baird describes a Shrew from Burlington, Vt., under 
the above name. •' In external appearance,” he says, 
“it perfectly resembles the B. talpoides, and caroli- 
nensis, but is intermediate between them in size.” 
It has some remarkable peculiarities in skull, the hit 
ter being much narrower than any he had seen. 'I’he 
outline of the jaw outside of the molars, as viewed from 
above, instead of being convex is stright. The color 
is nearly an uniform bluish-gray all over, with a wash 
of brown on the back ; the feet and tip of tail are 
wliite. Its length is 2.-rfo i 
ASH-COLORED SHREW [Blarina cinerea). — This 
sj)ecies, with those following, belongs to the section 
B, having four upper premolars, 30 teeth. It is found 
in various ])arts of the country, from the Eastern 
Stutes to Georgia and Florida. Its color above is 
iron-gray, glossed with dark olive-brown ; beneath, it 
IS a light gray. Color of the tail sharply defined. 
J lead and body about two and a half inches, 'fail 0.70. 
WEAK-FOOTED SHREW {B. exili 2 )es).—’V\\\s, is a 
very small Shrew, having remarkably small feet. Its 
body is slender. In color, a hoary olive-brown above, 
with a chestnut tinge ; beneath, it is grayish-white. 
Tail is bicolored. In size, the head and body are less 
than two inches ; tail about 0.60. The crowns of 
the teeth, as in other species, have the chestnut color- 
ing darkest on the tips. 
BERLANDER’S SHREW [B. herlanclieri) .—V\\\s, 
is another small species, with a moderately stout 
body. Its fur is full, compact, and soft, but short. 
'I’he ears are small, and inconspicuous. It is readily 
distinguished from others, except B. exilipes ; from 
this it may be known by its shorter hair, which re- 
sembles long piled velvet, and from the feet, which 
are broader and larger. More distinction is seen 
however, in the teeth, which are much larger every 
way. The colors are different. The Rio Grande is 
the most northern limit. No other Shrew has been 
found so far South. 
THE MARSH SHREW (&rea; -This is 
regarded as a strongly marked species. It is found 
in the region of Hudson’s Bay, but not in the United 
States. Its length is three and a half inches ; the 
tail is two and seven twelfths. The back is hoary- 
black ; the belly ash-gray. 
FRINGE-FOOTED SHREW [Sorex fimbriata).~T)Y. 
Bachman describes this species from a single specimen 
found in Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania. It measured 
two and an eighth inches to the root of the tail, the tail 
one and three quarters. Above, the color is brown ; 
beneath, it is buff. 'I’lie fur is unusually long. The 
most notable characteristics are the broad fore-feet, 
and the curious fringe of hairs which border them. 
'I'he great paws quite resemble those of a turtle. 
THE SMALL SHREW (Sorex parvus). — A species 
described by Say, in Long's Expedition, 1823. It re- 
sembles closely Bachman’s S. cinereus. 
HARLAN’S SHREW {Sorex hariani). — A very small 
Shrew, collected first by Lesueur at New Harmony, 
Ind., and described byDuvernoy. It has thirty teeth, 
and measures two and a fourth inches in length. Its 
color above is brownish-gray, and a purer gray beneath. 
THE SOLENODON (Solenodon paradoxus). — 'I'his 
little creature, also called Agouta, has been a puzzle 
to naturalists ; hence its specific name. It is found 
in the island of Hayti. Several characters common 
to other families are united in this form. Its teeth 
place it among the Shrews ; some external characters 
give it an aspect common to the Opossums. Its fur 
is long, harsh and coarse; in color a pale red, tinged 
with yellow. It is rather larger than the common- 
rat, having a tail similar to the latter. 'The dentition 
of the Agouta is singular. Van der Hoeven says : 
“'I'lie two middle incisors of the lower jaw are small, 
narrow, placed between two long, conical ones, and 
Fig. ix. 
The Solenodon. 
are hollowed on the inside Iry a deep groove ; the sec- 
ond grooved incisor of the lower jaw distinguishes 
this genus from all the others of which the dental 
system is known hitherto.” 'I'wo middle incisors 
of the upper jaw are extremely large, almost triangu- 
lar in form, and are separated from the small latei'al 
incisors by a considerable interval. 'Jhis dentition 
would seem to indicate an insect diet, but a living 
specimen showed a preference for grain. 
In general aspect the Solenodon resembles the rat 
as he is seen casually. One species of this curious 
creature is alt that is known at present, riiegeneiic 
term signifies channel-toothed. 
