51 
IT. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS -ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
Measurements. 
No. 
642. 
No. 
643. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
Head to occiput'__....___ 
0 
8 
0 
9 
Head to root of tail'______ 
2 
0 
2 
0 
Tail to end of vertebras'. _____ 
9 
7 
Tail to end of hairs'_ 
94 
7 £ 
Hand from wrist_ 
3A 
3£ 
Foot from heel- __ 
4} £ 
41 $ 
Skull, length of palate___ 
3A 
3& 
Skull, width of palate_ .. 
2 A 
Measurements of two specimens in alcohol. 
Nose to eye_ 
Ear_ 
Occiput_ 
Root of tail_ 
Tail to end of vertebra?. 
Tail to end of hairs_ 
Hand____ 
Foot .. 
2159. 
2160. 
.36 
.30 
.58 
.52 
.78 
.75 
2.00 
1.92 
.60 * 
.55 
. 65 
.62 
.27 
.27 
.40 
.39 
The only species requiring comparison with this is the S. exilipes, a specimen of which, doubt- 
ingly referred to this species, has been found at Brownsville, on the opposite hank of the Rio 
G-rande. It may, however, he readily distinguished by the character of the fur, which is very short 
and close, sub-erect, almost like long-piled velvet, especially on the breast and throat, instead of 
lying back. The feet are larger and broader. The most appreciable difference, however, is in 
the teeth, which are much larger in every way; the first two lateral upper teeth are much 
longer and more pointed, and instead of sloping forward and overlapping they are almost 
directed backwards, or at least perpendicularly to the palate. The colors, too, are appreciably 
different. 
The specimens described form part of the Berlandier collection presented to the Smithsonian 
Institution by Lieutenant Couch, and were probably gathered by Dr. Berlandier, in the vicinity 
of Matamoras. Among the notes of Dr. Berlandier is the description of a Sorex, for which he 
proposes the name of S. lessonii, and which may possibly refer to one of the above specimens, 
although there is some discrepancy. There is unfortunately no description of the teeth of his 
animal. 
1 Measurements taken before skinning. 
