168 
THE mammals OE EGYPT. 
behind these are three canines [unicuspids] on each side and four maxillary teeth 
[large premolar and molars]; these latter are broad, and, as it Avere, bristling with 
points of unequal length and unequal size, dhe last molar is smaller than the three 
teeth preceding it. The lower jaw has two incisors, as long as those of the upper jaw, 
two strong canines on each side, and three molars, also strong but not so broad as those 
above. The skull is slightly enlarged in the figure. The feet have five toes, Avell 
formed, armed with thin and hooked nails. The fur of the animal, which is preserved 
is red and verv fine. The fail appears to be about as long as the body. 
[According to Sir J. Gardner Wilkinson k the shrew-mouse held a conspicuous place 
amongst the sacred animals of Egypt, and on the authority of Herodotus he relates 
that the Shrews were taken when they died to Butos for burial, because they were 
sacred to the goddess of that city. Plutarch ^ has observed that this animal received 
divine honours among the Egyptians, as it was believed to be blind, and because 
darkness was more ancient than light. 
There are numerous figures of shrews in the ‘ Salle des Dieux in the Louvre, Paris, 
some large, others very small. All of them have been the covers of small sarcophagi 
containing mummified individuals probably representing four species. 
In the Egj^ptian Collection in Berlin, besides the mummies brought by Passalacqua, 
there are some packets of compressed mummified shrews from an animal-grave in 
Achmim — Gf. S. A.] 
Ckociduka (Ckocidura) keligiosa. Is. Geoffr. (Plate XXIII. fig. 2.) 
Sorex religiosus, Is. Geoffr. Mem. Mus. xv. 1827, p. 128, pi. 4. fig. 1. 
4 (^, 6 ? . Lent by Hon. N. Charles Rothschild. Cairo, May 1901. 
One of the smallest of shrews; tail long; upper side blue-grey, with a slight wash 
of brown; lower side silvery grey; the feet pale, nearly naked. 
Measurements taken from specimens in spirit:—Head and body 50 millim. ; tail 
31-32; hind foot 9-9 5 ; forearm and hand 12—13 ; ear 6 ; snout to hinder border of 
ear 17-19; snout to eye 8'5-9. 
Length of skull (c.) 16 millim.; breadth (c.) 7; breadth across maxillae 5; inter¬ 
orbital breadth 3-9 ; breadth of snout 2 ; tip of incisor to tip of large premolar 3-3. 
Since Isidore Geoffrey wrote his paper on the shrews, and described and figured the 
mummified specimens found by Passalacqua in the tombs at Thebes, no mention of this 
’ Ancient Egyptians, iii. p. 270. ^ CEayres Melees, t. i. p. 199, traduit 1781, Symp. iv. Qusesl. v. 
® Tiermumien, Kgl. Mus. Kat. p. 317. 
