SORICJD.E 



623 



a gland covered by two rows of coarse hairs. This secretes a 

 peculiar fluid, on which the odour of the animal depends ; this 

 odour being evidently protective, and rendering the creature secure 

 against the attacks of many predaceous animals. 



The geographical range of the Common Shrew is exceedingly 

 wide, extending eastwards through Europe and Asia (north of the 

 Himalayas) to North America. 



The Lesser Shrew (S. pygmceus 1 ) is far less common in England 

 and Scotland, although more abundant in Ireland, where S. vulgaris 

 is unknown. It is distinguished from the latter not only by its 

 inferior dimensions, but also by the circumstance that the third 

 upper incisor is not longer than the fourth, and by the considerably 

 shorter length of the forearm and maims. This species extends 

 through Europe and Asia as far as the island of Saghalin. Both 



Fig. 2S7. — The Common Shrew (Sorex vulgaris). 



this and the preceding species generally live in wooded districts, 

 making their nests under the roots of trees, or in slight hollows. 

 The great mortality noticeable among the Shrews in the early part 

 of the autumn is probably due to insufficiency of food. The breed- 

 ing season extends from the latter part of April to the beginning 

 of August. The young, which are blind, naked, and toothless at 

 birth, are very quickly developed. The number in a litter is 

 usually from five to seven, but may be as many as ten. 



The Alpine Shrew (,S'. aljriiius), which is restricted to the Alpine 

 region of Central Europe, is slightly larger than the common 

 species, from which it is distinguished by the longer tail, the length 

 of which exceeds that of the head and body, by the fur being dark 

 on both surfaces of the body, and also by the larger size of the 

 upper canine. 



In North America S. bendirei is by far the largest species of the 

 genus ; and, as in many other species of the same country, the 

 fourth upper incisor is relatively small. In S. hoyi (separated by 



1 Syn. S. minutus. 



