98 
movement in that direction. In fighting, it did not spring up high, nor attempt to leap 
upon its adversary, as the Mouse, but jerked itself along, stepping firmly, with the fore 
feet well forward and the head high. On coming in contact with the Mouse, it snapped 
at him, and, though it sometimes rose on its hind feet in the struggle, I did not observe 
that it used its fore feet as weapons of offense, like Arvicola. Its posture, when on 
guard, was always with the feet spread and firmly braced, and the head held with the 
snout pointing upward and the mouth and chin pointing forward, in which position its 
eyes would have been of no use could it have seen. The motions of the animal, when 
angry, are characterized by a peculiar firmness; the muscles appear to be held very 
rigid, while the movements are made by quick, energetic jerks. Short springs, either 
backward, forward, or sideways, appear to be made with equal readiness.” 
None of the specimens kept captive lived more than a day or two, al- 
though well cared for. They would not leave the sides of the wall or 
cage and cross the middle, but run around the sides; unless sharply 
chased, they would not jump over an ear of corn in the way, but ran 
around it. When hurt, this Shrew utters a short, tremulous note ; when 
much enraged, this note becomes longer, harsher, and twittering, like 
that of some sparrows. Occasionally, a short, clear cry is uttered, softer 
and lower, but not unlike that of the Common Mink. 
BLARINA (SORICISCUS) PARVA Say. 
LEAST SHREW. 
1828. Sorex parvus, Say, Long’s Expedition, i, 1823, 164.—Harlan, Fauna 
Am., 1824, 29.—Buchman, J. A. N. Sc. Ph., vii, 1837, 394. 
1837. Sorex cinerea, .Bachman, J. A. N. Se Ph., vii, 1837, 378; pl. 
KKM aos | 
1878. Blarina (Soriciscus) parva, (Say) Jordan, Manual of the Vertebrates, 
2d ed., 1878 (addenda, page 353). 
Specific Characters.—Body rather stout; feet small; head two-thirds the 
length of the foot; foot little more than halt the length of skull; tail 
thin, shorter than the head. Head and body.about two and one-half inches 
long; tail .75 inch; hind foot about .42. Color above, iron gray, glossed 
with dark olive-brown ; beneath, light-ash, or brownish-gray ; tail bicolor, 
in harmony with the bodyareas. Dentition: j=); pm. 3-5; M.3-3—;3;—00. 
Distribution.—Southern States; north to Pennsylvania; also, at Irving- 
ton, Indiana (Dr. D.S. Jordan). Occurring at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 
and in central Indiana, this species most probably is found in southern, 
or even central Ohio. I give it not as a known resident of Ohio, but as 
a species without reasonable doubt occurring there. 
The specimen in Dr. D. 8. Jordan’s collection, taken at Irving- 
ton, Marion county, Indiana, is somewhat flattened by pressure, and 
has the back part of the skull crushed. The body is rather slender, 
