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SUMMARYThree males and two females of the West Malaysian house shrew, Suncus murinus (Linnaeus), collected from Malacca appeared to be monomorphic. All individuals had 2n=40 comprising 12 pairs acrocentric, 4 pairs meta-/submeta-centric and 3 pairs subacrocentric autosomes, and meta/submeta-centric X and submetacentric Y sex chromosomes. The autosome complement and the duplicate type X chromosome were similar to those with 2 n = 40 reported previously in West Malaysia. The Y chromosome, however, was larger and also differed in its morphology viz. submetacentric instead of metacentric. The West Malaysian taxon was compared with the taxa reported in India. Japan and South Vietnam, and the geographic variations discussed.

A new species, Polyplax brachyuromyis Kim & Emerson, from Brachyuromys is described and illustrated, and records of 5 species of Anoplura are reported from Madagascar rodents, insectivores, and domestic cattle: HoploPleura captiosa on Mus musculus, H. pacifica on Rattus rattus, Polyplax reclinata on Suncus murinus, P. spinulosa on Rattus rattus , and Haematopinus quadripertusus on cow.

A mean thyroid hormone secretion rate (TSR) of 1.61 μg/100 g body wt/day was determined for 26 Asian musk shrews ( Suncus murinus ) born and raised in captivity. Young females had statistically higher TSR's (1.90 ± 0.17 μg) than old males but the biological significance of this is unknown. The mean TSR of the entire group is not excessive for mammals in this weight class (mean 32.2 g) and is actually less than that of the Missouri Valley mole. The mean t 1 2 of l -T 4 in young males and females (15.19 ± 0.98 hr) is significantly shorter than in old males (20.38 ± 0.46 hr) when Tapazole is administered to prevent 131 I recycling. An overall mean t 1 2 of 18.08 ± 0.28 hr for 17 shrews does not indicate inordinate thyroid activity when compared with the t 1 2 of laboratory rodents. These data indicate that the thyroid activity, and presumably, the overall metabolic rate of this tropically distributed insectivore species does not justify placing Suncus murinus in a metabolically peculiar category.

A survey of the small mammals of Nepal from September 1965 to January 1966 yielded 14 species of chiggers, 6 new, belonging to the genus and subgenus Leptotrombidium. The new species, L. (L.) dooleyi ex field mouse; L. (L.) mitchelli ex Rattus nitidus, Suncus murinus caerulescens; L. (L.) murphyi ex R. rattus, R. r. tistae, R. r. brunneus, R. r. brunneusculus; L. (L.) narayanshahi ex Bandicota bengalensis, R. r. brunneus, R. r. brunneusculus; L. (L.) rowanae ex R. r. brunneus, R. r. brunneus, R. r. brunneusculus; L. (L.) rowanae ex R. r. brunneus, R. r. brunneusculus; and L. (L.) worthi ex R. r. brunneusculus are described and illustrated. L. (L.) macacum (Womersley, 1952) and L. (L.) puta (Womersley, 1952) are redescribed and illustrated. The synonymy of subgenus Ericotrombidium Vercammen-Grandjean & Andre, 1966 with subgenus Leptotrombidium Nagayo et al., 1916, and species L. (L.) pumile (Traub et al., 1958) with L. (L.) fulleri (Ewing, 1945) is proposed. A key is given to the 14 species discussed. Host, altitude and habitat distribution of the Leptotrombldium species are presented in tabular form (TABLE 2 & 3).

1. 1. Of the ventral or flexor tail muscles of Suncus, the M. sacrococcygeus is the longest and arises most anteriorly as in other long-tailed forms. 2. 2. The M. iliococcygeus shows a tendency to ...

Distribution and host records are given for 4 species of Eulaelaps and 29 species of Haemogamasus from mammals of 20 countries and islands. Described as new is H. suncus from Nepal.

The genus Pseudophysaloptera, recognized as a genus distinct from Physatoptera, is tentatively considered monotypic. The several species previously assigned to the genus Pseudophysaloptera, and the closely related species Physaloptera kotlani, have been reduced to one polytypic species, Pseudophysaloptera formosana, with two subspecies, P. f. formosana and P. f. soricina. The former occurs in Oriental species of Suncus, while the latter occurs in Palaearctic and Ethiopian soricid insectivores. North American specimens, which may represent a distinct species, are tentatively assigned to P. f. soricina. Presently available collections are only sufficient for a tentative identification of the Nearctic form.

Replication patterns of the duplicate-type sex chromosomes have been studied in bone-marrow cells in vivo and fetal cells in vitro of the Indian house shrew, Suncus murinus. The sex chromosomes start their replication along with the rest of the chromosomes in the early S but show asynchrony in the late S phase. The Y chromosome finishes its DNA synthesis earlier than the X chromosome and the autosomes in male bone-marrow and fetal cells. On the other hand, the X chromosomes in female cells behave differently in bone-marrow and fetal cells. One of the X’s replicates early in fetal cells. But there is no definite pattern in bone-marrow cells – the X chromosomes can replicate either early or late. The duplicate-type X chromosome of Suncus is unique among mammals in its replication; the pattern does not conform to the hypothesis that except 5% of the haploid complement residing in the X chromosome is functional. The correlation between genetic activity and late or early replication is discussed. It is proposed that heteropycnosis is merely a reflection of out-of-phase replication and not necessarily genetic inertness.

Baylis (1934) erected the genus Pscudophysaloptera for the worm he recovered from Crocidura sp. from Africa. In 1937 Chen reported the same species, P. soricina from China. In 1948 Lincicome transferred Physaloptera formosana (Yokogawa, 1922) to Pseudophysaloptera. In the same year Lincicome and McConnaughey reported another species, P. riukiuana from Suncus murinus in Okinawa. In 1953 Kobulej and Vershenyi described a worm as Physaloptera kotlani, but Schad (1903) rightly transferred it to Pseudophysaloptera. Kobulej 1955 doubted the validity of the genus Pseudophysaloptera, but the labial dentition and the sessile caudal papillae are characters good enough to regard it as an independent genus.

1. 1. An outbreak of bubonic plague was expected at the time of the Allied reoccupation of Rangoon in 1945. Rat control by poison was attempted. 2. 2. The town was infested with Bandicota bengalensis, Rattus rattus, R. exulans , some R. norvegicus, Mus musculus , and the shrew Suncus caeruleus . Notes on the appearance and habits of each are given. 3. 3. Plague seemed to be associated with the first three only. 4. 4. Trapping and gassing methods had long been in use, and were considered ineffective. 5. 5. A method of poisoning with barium carbonate in boiled rice after 4 days' prebaiting was evolved. 6. 6. Results were satisfactory, and with further research the method should prove an effective method of control.

Data were obtained from 45 litters of Suncus murinus born in captivity on Guam. The average litter size at birth was 1.84; weights of females averaged 2.0 g and males averaged 2.3 g on the day of birth. Only a few guard hairs and relatively well-developed facial vibrissae were present until the underfur appeared after day four. The irises were pink at birth but were black by day two. The external auditory meatus became patent between days five and nine. The eyelids separated between days seven and 10. Incisors erupted between days six and 14 and the young were self-sufficient by day 20. Nonpregnant females attained maximum body weight by about 60 days but some males became heavier after this age.

Collections were made of rodent tissues, ectoparasites and human sera from widely scattered areas of north, north-east and central Thailand, in a search for murine typhus. Rickettsia mooseri was recovered from 35 1215 Rattus exulans, 1 209 R. rattus and 2 human cases of fever of unknown origin. No recoveries were made from 297 R. norvegicus, 38 Suncus murinus or 26 Bandicota indica. Antibody prevalence in human residents of trapping areas ranged from 0 to 20%. The findings suggest that murine typhus may be of more importance in Thailand than generally assumed. Further studies are under way.

All active life history stages of Laelaps Myonyssognathus Grochovskaya & Nguyen, 1961, are described and illustrated. Laelaps (Laelaps) prognathus Jameson, 1965, is considered to be a junior synonym of L. myonyssognathus . Abo, the specimen referred to as Haemolaelaps sp. by Pippin & Shimada (1966), collected from Rattus norvegicus on Iwo Jima, Volcano Is., is considered to be L. myonyssognathus. New host and locality records follow: ex R. rattus mindanensis , Pampanga, Luzon, Philippine Is.; ex Suncus sp., Baratpur, Rajasthan, India; ex Bandicota sp., Kolar District, Mysore, India; ex Mus musculus homourus and Suncus stoliczkanus , Kanha Park, Madhya Pradesh, India; ex Suncus murinus , Ratanpur, Hoogly District, W. Bengal, India; and ex Suncus murinus, Bandicota indica, Bandicota bengalensis , and Rattus rattus , Calcutta, India. Taxonomic relationships, geographic distribution, and host associations of L. myonyssognathus are discussed briefly.

SummaryPasteurella pestis was isolated from 7 Suncus murinus spleen pools and 3 flea pools obtained from it. Lesions indicating an acute infection were not observed in any of the 1,757 animals examined. When pooled sera were examined, 15 of 55 pools had titers of 1:16-1:256 against fraction I of P. pestis.

anaesthesia. Since it is known that the process of spermatogenesis is very heat-sensitive, the control of deep body temperature may be as important to testicond species as the control of testis temperature is to scrotal mammals. For this reason, we performed two experiments: (1) measurement of the deep body temperatures in non-anaesthetized intact and gonadectomized adult male and female musk shrews, and (2) measurement of deep body and peritesticular temperatures in non-anaesthetized intact male shrews. The shrews were from a laboratory breeding colony, maintained as described by Dryden & Ross (1971). Gonadectomies were performed using Metofane anaesthesia (Pitman-Moore) a minimum of 4 weeks before testing. A Honeywell multipoint recording potentiometer and 40 gauge (0\m=.\5 mm) copper-constantan thermocouples were used to record temperatures. All thermocouples were calibrated immediately before testing. To record deep body temperatures in Exp. 1, each thermocouple was inserted rectally to a depth of 2 6 to 4-0 cm, depending on the size of the animal, and secured in place by taping to the individual's tail. The shrew was then placed in an observation cage where it could move around freely, and its body temperature was recorded for 60 to 90 min. The depth of insertion of the probe was checked after each test. In Exp. 2, a rectal probe was inserted as described above. In addition, a thermocouple was inserted into a 23-gauge needle and 'injected' into the peritesticular space within 1 to 2 mm of the testis. The location of the testes was determined surgically before these experiments. The needle was then removed and the temperature recorded. The shrew was restrained during this manipulation and for the duration of the recording (10 to 20 min). No anaesthesia was used. All tests were performed between 13.00 and 16.00 hours. Ambient temperatures were 22 to 23°C. The results are shown in Table 1. In Exp. 1, the body temperatures in the intact males were significantly lower than the values for the other three groups but there was no significant

15 Exemplare vonSuncus murinus aus Kuala Lumpur und Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) zeigten 3 Exemplare mit einer diploiden Zahl von 40, 9 weitere mit 2n=39 und 3 Exemplare mit 2n=38. Der Untrschied der Chromosomenzahl innerhalb einer Intrapopulation wird mit der Robertson'schen Translokation in Zusammenhang gebracht.

The impulse conducting system (ICS) in the heart of the Asian musk shrew,Suncus murinus, was investigated by means of electrocardiography and light microscopy.

Two new species of trombiculid mites from Western-ghats in Poona district, Maharashtra, India are described and illustrated. Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) sinhgarhense , n. sp. which is close to L. (L.) scutellare (Nagayo, et al., 1920) was collected from Rattus rattus rufescens, R. r. satarae, Millardia sp. and Suncus murinus , in Sinhgarh, Atkarwadi, Lonavla and Nighudgarh. Gahrliepia (Schoengastiella) ramachandrai , n. sp. which is close to G. (S.) ligula (Radford, 1946) was collected from Rattus rattus rufescens, Mus booduga and Suncus murinus in Atkarwadi, Sinhgarh and Lonavla.

When egg-masses of Lucilia illustris, taken from carcasses, were mounted on the body of living vertebrates (Clarius batrachus, Bufo melanostictus, Rana tigrina, Hemidactylus fluviviridis, Columba livia and Suncus murinus), the larvae hatched in the majority of cases under normal conditions of room temperature, and entered into the body of the experimental hosts, ultimately killing them. It appeared that the larvae fed on the brain first before turning their attention to other soft tissues of the hosts. The specimens fed on living tissue had a shorter period of development than those bred on dead animals and the period of development was shortest when the host was a living warm-blooded animal.Thanks are due to Mr H. Oldroyd of the British Museum of Natural History, London, for kindly identifying the fly. The authors also wish to thank Dr T. N. Ghosh of the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, who helped with literature; and Dr S. K. Das Gupta, of the Darjeeling Government College, who helped with suggestions at the time of preparing the manuscript.

The pituitary gland of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus L. was studied with special reference to the cytology of the adenohypophysis. In addition to the agranular cells (chromophobes), seven morphologically and tinctorially distinct chromophilic cell types (four mucoid and three acidophilic) were observed in the pars anterior. These cells have been tentatively named as types one to seven. On the basis of their morphology, topography and staining reactions, cells of types one to six were compared, respectively, with the TSH, FSH, ICSH (LH), LTH (prolactin), STH and ACTH cells of other mammals. The identity of type 7 cells could not be determined. Although mucoid cells (types 1, 2) are more concentrated in the rostroventral region of the pars anterior, a definite “zona tuberalis” seems to be lacking. Since the musk shrew is not a seasonal breeder, the gonadotropic cells (types 2, 3) of the adenohypophysis do not seem to fluctuate in structure during the different times of the year. However, conspicuous hypertrophy, hyperplasia and intense secretory activity of type 4 cells during pregnancy and lactation reinforces the postulation that these cells are lactotropic in function. Follicular cysts and colloid in the residual cleft were observed in a few instances. Their possible origin and significance are discussed.

Zwei neue Chromosomen (2n=36 und 37; fruher 38, 39 und 40) wurden in der malayischen SpitzmausSuncus murinus gefunden und als numerische Variationen der Robertsonschen Translokation zugeschrieben. Es wird angenommen, dass es sich um zwei Arten von “Translokation» handelt die metazentrisch mitwirkten und woraus die Produktion 9 karyotypischer Klassen resultiert.

The subgenus Trombiculindus was established as a genus by Radford (1948) for a species of chigger taken from rats (Rattus sp.) in India. Subsequently, Traub and Evans (1951) described two more species of Trombiculindus from shrews (Crocidura sp. and Suncus sp.) from North Burma. Recently, Womersley (1952, p. 140) named a fourth species of this group; his species was based on specimens found on an unidentified mouse taken in Bal Tal Kashmir, India. The chigger here described is the fifth member of Tromsbiculindus; but, unlike the previously named species, it occurs in temperate regions, far to the north of the known geographic ranges of the other species. We prefer to follow Wharton et al (1951) in using Trombiculindus as a subgenus of Trombicula. Although the foliate setae are strikingly different from the slender, feathered setae of most other species of Trombicula, such a character by itself seems not to be sufficient for the separation of this group as a genus. Except for the foliate setae, these species have the characters of the subgenus Leptotrombidium.

The large musk shrew, Suncus murinus (Linnaeus), was first taken on Guam in May, 1953 by the author. This is the first record, to his knowledge, of the species from an oceanic island. It is probable that the shrew was introduced into Guam from the Philippines where it is common. Shrews could easily enter bales or crates of cargo materials on the docks or in warehouses at a Philippine port that were destined for Guam and in that manner be transported to the Island. Once the cargo was offladen in Guam, shrews could escape and reproduce, thus establishing the species. This theory gains support from the fact that the first specimens taken were captured in a warehouse situated near Apra Harbor. Investigations made shortly after the first shrews were found revealed that colonies existed at various places in the harbor area, but none was found elsewhere for over one year. Specimens were sent to the University of California, …

Myosorex Gray is one of the three genera of shrews occurring in Southern Africa, the other two being Crocidura Wagler and Suncus Hemprich and Ehrenberg. The affinities of these and other African shrews have been discussed in previous papers (Meester, 1953, 1954) and a recent paper by De Balsac and Lamotte (1956) includes an extensive discussion on the intrageneric classification of Myosorex , with the description of several new forms from Central and East Africa. A taxonomic study of Myosorex has brought to light certain interesting facts concerning the nature and extent of variation in the Southern African representatives of this genus. These facts, and some speculations based on them regarding the origin and development of the species concerned form the subject matter of the present paper. The material studied consists of skins and skulls of Myosorex from a number of Southern African localities. A list of these localities, with their geographic loci indicated after the system used by Davis (1949), and with the number of specimens from each locality, appears in Table 1. The localities are further indicated by squares on the distribution maps of the two species (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Distribution of Myosorex in Southern Africa. Left, M. varius ; right, M. cafer . For further details, see text. View this table: Table 1. Locality list, with loci indicated after the system used by Davis (1949), and the number of specimens from each locality Several species and subspecies of Myosorex have been described from Southern Africa. Of these only two, M. varius (Smuts) and M. cafer (Sundevall), are currently regarded as good species (De Balsac and Lamotte, 1956). The other forms are for the most part based on minor variations in color and size, and can consequently all be disregarded, with the exception of M. sclateri sclateri Thomas and …

The sideglands of Suncus murinus are not responsible for the char- acteristic musk production. Concentrations of sweat glands on the throat and behind the ears apparently produce this odor. Removal of both sebaceous side- gland pads did not result in loss of the musk odor. Bilateral castration caused sweat gland atrophy and cessation of musk production within 3 weeks in 11 males and in two of five females. Testosterone or estradiol implants caused sweat gland recovery and the resumption of odor production in castrates of both sexes, as did progesterone in males. Adrenocortical-like tissue around the epoophoron may have supported odor production in some castrates. The occurrence of dermal sideglands in several species of shrews (and the midventral gland of Blarina brevicauda) has been known for many years. Coues (1896) stated that both the ventral and sidegland pads of Blarina were composed entirely of sebaceous tubules. Eadie (1938) and Pearson (1946) agreed that the ventral gland of Blarina was almost entirely sebaceous but they showed that the sideglands were approximately half sweat tubules. Eadie noted that the sweat tubules were apparently supported by testicular secretions and that the sebaceous tubules atrophied during pregnancy. He stated that the ventral gland of Blarina produced the characteristic odor and suggested that the sideglands might produce a sexual attractant. Pearson (1946), on the con- trary, noticed no regression of either the sebaceous or sweat tubules in non- breeding males or in castrates of either sex. Because both ventral and side- gland areas contained sebaceous tubules and because both areas seem odorif- erous, Pearson assumed that the sebaceous elements of the glands were produc- ing the odorous substance. Theelin (estrogen) and proluton (progesterone) had no effect on the glands and the testosterone only increased the vascularity of the sideglands. Confusion has resulted from abandoning the early designation "sideglands" of Arnback-Christie-Linde (1907) and Johnsen (1914) and substituting "scent glands" (Pearson, 1946), when in fact, the sideglands have not been shown to be the source of the musky odor of shrews. Extension of the "scent gland" designation to other species, for example, Suncus murinus (Barbehenn, 1962), may be without foundation.

A study of seasonal reproductive activity in the house shrew, Suncus murinus , was carried out from December 1962 through September 1963 in Calcutta, West Rengal, India. Data from this study are compared to data reported from Malaya and Guam. Average weight for male Suncus in Calcutta was 105.6 g and that for females was 67.7 g. These weights are higher than the mode of 55 g for males and 45 g for females reported from Malaya, and still higher than the mean of 30 g for males and 21 g for females reported from Guam. The Calcutta sample had an almost equal sex ratio, while a significantly higher proportion of males was reported from both Malaya and Guam. A high level of reproductive activity was found in both sexes throughout the study period in Calcutta with a slight peak in the pregnancy rate during the spring. Comparisons with data from Malaya and Guam indicate that a peak in pregnancy rate occurs in all three areas following a period of relatively low rainfall. This is in the spring in Calcutta and Guam, and in the fall in Malaya. Average litter size in the Calcutta sample was 3.8, which is somewhat larger than the 2.7 and 2.1 reported from Malaya and Guam, respectively.