SOREX 45 



pelage (winter coat not known), in which the back rarely if 

 ever assumes the blackish-brown tints often seen in the Alpine 

 form. 



Colour. — The colour scarcely needs detailed description. As 

 compared with that of the other large races it is characterised 

 by extreme dulness and lack of noticeable contrast between the 

 dorsal area and sides. In none of the thirty-two skins examined 

 is the back so dark as in the dark individuals frequently found 

 in Switzerland in summer. 



Skull and teeth. — As in 8. araneus tetragonunis. 



Measurements. — External measurements of type : head and 

 body, 72 ; tail, 51 ; hind foot, 14. Average and extremes of six 

 specimens from the type locality : head and body, 70 '6 (69-72) ; 

 tail, 47 (44-4-51); hind foot, 13-3 (13-14). Average and 

 extremes of nine specimens from Bareges, Hautes-Pyrenees : head 

 and body, 72-5 (69-75); tail, 45 (42-49); hind foot, 13-3 

 (13-14). For cranial measurements see Table, p. 50. 



Specimens examined. — Thirty-two, from the following localities in the 

 French Pyrenees : — 



Port6, Pyren^es-Orientales (Spanish watershed), 9; I'Hospitalet, Ariege, 

 12 ; Ax-les-Thernies, Ariege, 2 ; Bareges, Hautes-Pyr^nees, 9. 



BemarTcs. — ^In its dull colour the Pyrenean shrew differs from 

 the other large members of the group in much the same way as 

 the small Sore.v araneus euronotus of the neighbouring lowlands 

 differs from true araneus. It thus represents the opposite 

 extreme from the dark Norwegian form. 



8, ?. Porte, Pyr6nees-0rien- G. S. Miller (c). 8. S. 4. 142-143. 



tales, 1600m. France. 

 2 6,9. Porte, Pyrenees-Orien- 0. Thomas (p). 8.9.1.49-51. 



tales, 1600-1700 m. 



[A. Robert). 

 (5,4?. L'Hospitalet, Ariege, G. S. Miller (c). 8.8.4.151-154. 



4700 ft. 301. 



(8. 8. 4. 301. Type of subspecies.) 

 9. Ax-les-Thermes, Ariege, G. S. Miller (c). 8. 8. 4. 141. 



2600 ft. 

 6, 6 ?. Bareges, Hautes-Pyre- G. S. Miller (c). 8. 8. 4. 144-150. 



nees, 1300-1500 m. 



SoREX ARANEUS FRETALIS Miller. 



1909. Sorex araneus fretalis Miller, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 8th ser., in, 



p. 416, May, 1909. Type in British Museum. 



1910. Sorex araneus fretalis Trouessart, Fauna Mamm. d'Europe, p. 52. 



Type locality. — Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands. 



Geographical distribution. — Known only from the island of 

 Jersey. 



Diagnosis. — Like Sorex araneus araneus, but skull with 

 rostral portion shortened, broadened and deepened, and anterior 



