Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/315

Rh "The sacrum is lengthened at the expense of the lumbar vertebrae by a continuation of the general anchylosis through that region.

"A long and capacious thorax is defended by sixteen pairs of ribs, most of which equal in breadth those of the elephant, and all the true ribs are clamped by massive and completely ossified cartilages to a strong and complicated sternum.

"The scapulae, distinguished by their unusual breadth, and by the osseous arch connecting the acromial and coracoid processes, are attached to the large manubrium sterni by strong and complete clavicles.

"The humeri, short and thick, like the femora, have their muscular processes, ridges and condyles still more strougly developed; but the rotatory and lateral movements are unobstructed by any inordinate production of the proximal tuberosities.

"The fore-arm is longer than its corresponding segment in the hind limb, has both bones distinct, and equally remarkable for their great breadth and the angular form occasioned by the prominence of the intermuscular ridges; yet the mechanism for free pronation and supination is complete.

"The fore-foot is pentadactyle, but so unusually massive are the proportions of the radius and ulna, that, though actually broad and thick, it appears relatively small; and notwithstanding certain fingers are terminated by claw-bones of great size and length, yet owing to the form of their proximal phalanges and metacarpal bones, it is short in proportion to its breadth.

"The hind foot is tetradactyle, with the two inner toes elongated and armed with unequal but large claws.

"Both the fore- and hind-feet are remarkable for the shortness, breadth, and ungulate character of the two outer digits, which, when the Mylodon stood or trod upon the ground, must have principally sustained the superincumbent weight.

"A skull, smaller than that of the ox, but long, narrow and terminated by a truncated muzzle, is supported by a short neck composed of seven cervical vertebrae.

"These vertebræ are freely articulated together, and are succeeded by sixteen dorsal or costal vertebrae, remarkable for their broad and high spinous processes, which are nearly equal, and have an uniform inclination backwards.

"The capacious trunk, thus slightly elevated upon its short and strong supporters, presents the form of a cone, gradually tapering forwards from the enormous pelvis which forms its base, to the short neck and slender head."—Id. 15.

Note on a White Shrew Mouse. A few days since a labourer brought me a snowy white shrew mouse, which he had caught in a meadow while making hay. It proved to be a variety of the male of Sorex araneus. Its teeth were jet black, and its eyes of a pale pink colour. It was rather larger than the generality of its species, and less timid in captivity, eating freely, and not being so intent upon escape as is usually the case with most of this tribe when first enclosed within the narrow limits of a cage. It was fated, however, not long to tenant its new abode: on the third day of its captivity it lost its life in a bold attempt to regain its liberty—adding another victim to the catalogue of those whose beauty has proved their ruin! Has it ever been accurately ascertained what causes the death of such numbers of the common shrew? At some seasons of the year they may be picked up dead in the lanes and about hedges in this neighbourhood, almost by dozens. Some disease peculiar to them must, I should imagine, be the cause, as I never could observe any external marks of injury.—L. Pemberton Bartlett; Kingston, near Canterbury, July 28, 1843.