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Show 446 MR. E. R. ALSTON ON A NEW SHREW. [May 15, Molars with the usual W pattern towards the outer edge and broad low inner portion, which in the second and third^nses into a distinct cusp. ^-pt Vict.l * tp™ rig-. Skull and dentition of Sorex verce-pacis. The lower incisor is long and stout, with one well-marked and one nearly obsolete internal cusp. The canine is small and simple ; and the premolar and molars have each one inner and two outer cusps. Hab. Coban (Vera Paz), Guatemala (Brit. Mus.). I may here observe that the Shrew named Corsira tropicalis by Gray, at the same time as the above, seems to be the same as that subsequently described as Sorex micrurus by Mr. Tomes1. Dr. Coues informs me that it proves to belong to the division of Blarina, which have thirty-two teeth ; but whether it is distinct from some of the described North-American species remains to be ascertained. These Central-American Shrews are interesting as showing how far the Insectivora have penetrated into the Neotropical Region, their further advance having doubtless been checked by the competition of the smaller Edentates and Marsupials. As all the Guatemalan Mammals named without description by Gray in the Society's 'Proceedings' for 1843 (p, 79) have now been determined, I add a list with their synonyms :- 1. Heteromys desmarestianus = H. desmarestianus, Gray, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 204. 2. Corsira tropicalis = Blarina micrura (Tomes) : cf. suprh. 3. Corsira temlyas = Sorex verce-pacis, Alston: cf. suprd. 4. Saccophorus guochil = Geomys hispidus, Leconte : cf. Coues, Proc. Acad. Philad. 1875, p. 133. 5. Mus tazamaca = Ochetodon mexicana (De Sauss.) : cf. Alston, P.Z.S. 1876, p. 756. 6. Mus teguina = Hesperomys teguina, Alston, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 755. 1 P.Z.S. 1861, p. 279. |