Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon

Genus Corsira

Of Gray, Amphisorex of Duvernoy; differs in dentition from the last in having the lower quasi-incisors serrated with three or four coronal points, and the anterior point of the upper incisors not prolonged beyond the posterior spur, tipped with ferruginous; the lateral small teeth in the upper jaw are five in number, diminishing in size from the first backwards. Tail cylindrical, not tapering, and furnished with a stiffish brush at the extremity. The common British land-shrew is of this type.

No. 148. Corsira Alpina.
The Alpine Shrew (Jerdon’s No. 84).

Habitat.—Darjeeling.

Description.—Deep blackish brown, very slightly rufescent in certain lights; tail slender, nearly naked, very slightly attenuated, compressed at the tip.

Size.—Head and body, 2½ inches; tail 2½ inches.

This is identical with the European Alpine shrew; the Sorex caudatus of Horsfield’s Catalogue (No. 148), which was a specimen named by Hodgson, is also the same animal.