109G Life-histories of Northern Animals 



Life-history. 



RANGE This is the widest ranging of our Shrews, as will be seen 



by Map No. 57. It has been takefl at Norway House and 

 Turtle Mountain. I found it at Kenora-, Carberry, Winnipeg, 

 Pilot Mound, and Duck Mountain, so doubtless it is generally 

 distributed throughout Manitoba. 



iNDi- We have but little evidence on the individual range. 



RANGE Analogy would lead one to believe that an acre was an ample 

 kingdom for such a pigmy, but the light afforded by Nelson's 

 notes on the Yukon, cited later, shows that it may travel a mile 

 or two from home at certain seasons. 



MiGRA- ^These Alaska observations seem to point also to an exten- 



sive migration at the beginning of winter. It may be a regular 

 migration or it may be a mere land rush for good claims 

 whereon to settle for winter. 



ENvi- Although considered a woodland species, I found it 



WENT abundant on the grassy prairies, near scrubby hollows and 

 sloughs. It is but slightly subterranean and is incapable of 

 climbing. Its favourite surroundings are in grassy tangles and 

 brushy labyrinths of roots and faHen branches by the side of 

 streams or ponds; it is never found far from water and yet it 

 is not in the least aquatic. 



Its perfect fitting into its allotted surroundings is thus 

 graphically pictured by Merriam:^ 



"The naturalist well knows that, however cautiously he 

 may walk, the stir of his footstep puts to flight many forms of 

 life that will reappear as soon as quiet is restored; therefore, 

 in his excursions through the woods, he waits and watches, 

 frequently stopping to listen and observe. While thus occupied 

 it sometimes happens that a slight rustling reaches his ear. 

 There is no wind, but the eye rests upon a fallen leaf that seems 



* Mam. Adir., 1884, p. 173. 



