MAMMALS—SORICJNAE-BLARINA BREV1CAUDA. 
43 
much mutilated for accurate description. I can only add, tliat the longest hairs on the hack 
measure about 0.35 of an inch. 
The skull of this species is very large and massive, with little constriction in the middle por¬ 
tion. The occipital plane is more vertical than in B. talpoides. The anterior upper incisors are 
very massive, and there is only a slight indication of any basal lobe on the cutting edge. The 
second premolar is nearly twice as large as the first; the third and fourth abruptly much 
smaller, and nearly equal. Both together do not occupy as much space in the outline of the 
jaw as the one anterior to them. The fifth premolar is only visible from inside. 
In order to illustrate the comparative dimensions of this species, I have given the same table 
the measurements of one of the largest specimens of S. talpoides I have yet seen, (No. 2018 ?.) 
This, when skinned, could easily he made to measure four inches and over* from nose to root of 
tail. 
Dimensions. 
2151. 
1065. 
2078. 
2151. 
1065. 
2078. 
Nose to eye _ 
. 55 
.49 
Longest claw _ _ _ _ 
. 13 
. 10 
Nose to ear.____....._ 
. 86 
. 85 
Hind foot_,_ 
. 65 
. 60 
.53 
Nose to occiput _ . _ _,__ 
1. 22 
1. 06 
Longest claw_...._ 
. 10 
. 6 
Nose to base of tail......... 
4. 25 
3. 65 
Length, of skull_,.___ 
1. 00 
...... 
.88 
Tail to end of vertebrae_ 
1. 00 
. 90 
Greatest width._ 
. 51 
.46 
Hair. ... 
1. 25 
1.11 
Width of upper jaw_ 
. 32 
.31 
.29 
TTanrl 
. 50 
. 45 
.38 
Length of palate 
. 43 
.43 
. 35 
\ 
I present here the description of a shrew from northern Wisconsin, which differs in some 
respects from S. talpoides , and may he referred to S. brevicaudus. 
Brachysorex brevicaudus .—Size large. Fur long, (over 2| lines,) very soft and lustrous, lying flat to the body. Hand unusu¬ 
ally large, measuring almost five lines ; foot six and a half; tail about two-thirds the length of head. 
Color, dark plumbeous, with a blackish gloss above, having sometimes a faint purplish reflection. No rusty brown tips or 
hoariness visible in the fur. Head and body, 3j inches; tail to end of hairs, 10 lines. 
No. 108.—Body stout; nose acute, hut hroad ; whiskers rather numerous, long, and whitish ; 
ears small, with the concha hut little developed, lapping over the meatus, concealed hy the fur. 
Fur soft and silky, longest hairs about 2J lines. Tail very short, about two-thirds the length 
of the head; quadrangular in the dried specimens, and coated with rather long hairs, which 
form a pencil at the end. Feet more than usually large and stout, especially the anterior ones. 
These are broader, and have longer claws than the hind ones. The soles are naked, except at 
the heel; the first claw reaches the penultimate articulation of the second toe ; the fifth claw 
nearly to the base of the fourth. The hand is contained only about one and a third times in the 
foot. 
The prevailing color is a blackish plumbeous on the back and sides, dark plumbeous beneath; 
much the same everywhere, except a darker gloss above. There is sometimes a faint purplish 
gloss on the fur above. There is not the slightest trace of dull rusty brown. The hairs are 
dark plumbeous from their roots. The tail is everywhere like the back. « 
