250 
LONG-NOSED SHREW. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Length from the nose to the origin of the tail, 
“ of tail, 
“ of head, 
Height of ear, 
Length of hind-foot from heel to end of nails, - 
Inches. 
- II 
• 1 
7 
8 
- i 
3 
8 
We have since measured a specimen procured at Tulula falls in Georgia, 
the dimensions of which were as follows : 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from nose to origin of tail, - - - 2 2 
“ of tail, 1 3 
HABITS. 
We possess very little knowledge in regard to the habits of this little 
Shrew. The first specimen we saw was obtained in the swamps that 
border the Santee River, by Dr. Alexander Hume ; his labourers found 
it whilst digging a ditch through grounds nearly overflowed with water. 
Another was obtained in a singular mannerT Whilst we were at the house 
of Major Lee in Colleton district, his huntsman brought in some wild 
ducks, and among the rest a hooded merganser ( Mergus cucullatus ). There 
was a protuberance on the throat of this bird, appearing as if it had not 
fully swallowed some article of food at the time it was shot. On opening 
the throat, it was found to contain this little Shrew, which was fresh, and 
not in the least mutilated. 
We saw two or three Shrews in the same vicinity which we think were 
of this species, coming out of a bank on the edge of a rice field and swim- 
ming in the canal at the dusk of the evening. From the above circum- 
stances we are induced to think that this quadruped prefers low swampy 
situations, and is to a certain extent aquatic in its habits. We more 
recently obtained a specimen from Col. W. E. Haskell, of St. Paul’s 
parish, South Carolina, which was a shade lighter, and a little larger, than 
others in our possession, but presented no specific differences. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
The Long-nosed Shrew (although apparently very sparingly) is found in 
South Carolina. We saw a specimen in the possession of the keeper of 
the public house at the Tulula falls in the mountains of Georgia. It evi- 
dently extends throughout the middle States, and has been taken in New 
York and New England. 
