1094 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



But the teeth are so unHke those usually called by these 

 names, that it is easy to wrongly identify them. 



It is common to call the upper incisors (exclusive of the 

 first) and the canines, unicuspiJs, because of their single 

 point or cusp. The form of the teeth is greatly changed by 



The Common Shrew (Plate C) agrees with its Family and 

 genus; it is further a very small species and has the unicus- 

 pids gradually decreasing in size from front to back; thus the 

 third unicuspid (z. e., fourth incisor) is larger than the fourth 

 unicuspid or canine tooth (see Figs. 250 and 251 — i). 



The average total length is about 3il inches (100 mm.), 

 of which the tail is ii\ inches (40 mm.); the hind-foot about 

 I inch (13 mm.). 



Merriam weighed an Adirondack specimen at 43.95 

 grains (2.85 grammes), and he considered it a very large one.' 

 J. H. Linsley weighed one at 47 grains," and Professor S. F. 

 Baird another at 37 grains.' I found a Cos Cob specimen to 

 weigh 3.1 grammes (47.8 grains). 



The summer coat, above, sepia brown mixed with dark- 

 tipped hairs; shaded into ashy white or fawn below; tail, dark 

 brownish above and all around at tip, whitish below, rather 

 sharply defined, /. e., tail bicolored. 



Winter coat, more grayish above and lighter, sometimes 

 pure white below. 



A chestnut phase is sometimes found. The sexes are 

 alike. 



This wide ranging species has but 4 recognized races: 



personatus G. St. Hilaire, the typical form. 

 streatori Merriam, slightly larger and darker. 

 arcticus Merriam, paler, and with longer tail. 

 miscix Bangs, larger and paler than true personatus. 



' Mam. Adir., 1SS4, p. 174. = Zool. N. Y., 1842, Pt. I, p. 23. 



'Pac. R. Rep., 1857, Vol. VIII, p. 26. 



