1114 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



The impression it gives is of a large Long-tailed Shrew, 

 black above, white below (see Plate C). 



Preble says:' "A specimen received from Mr. J. K. 

 MacDonald, of Norway House, who obtained it from the 

 Indians, is in full winter pelage. It resembles the specimen 

 from Robinson Portage taken in September, except that the 

 fur of the back is tipped with whitish." 



Four races are recognized: 



palustris Rich., the typical form. 



navigator Baird, a smaller and more plumbeous race. 



albibarbis Cope, a dark-bellied race. 



alaskanus Merriam, like navigator but smaller. 



Life-history. 



Manitoba is about the middle of the range accredited to 

 this Shrew, but the only recorded specimen taken in the 

 Province was one which I captured at Carberry in 1884 and 

 sent to the American Museum of Natural History in New 

 York. Preble's specimens, with other records, fairly surround 

 the Province, so that it is to be looked for in all parts of Manitoba. 



ENVIRON- The species is aquatic, inhabiting the borders of streams 

 and marshes. My Carberry specimen was captured in a sedge 

 by a slough. The Indians who brought the Norway House 

 specimen to MacDonald called it * Beaver-mouse,' because 

 it was found in the houses of the Beaver. Samuel Hearne says' 

 that in the Hudson Bay Territories "the Shrew Mouse is 

 frequently found in Beaver houses during winter, where they 

 not only find a warm habitation, but also pick up a comfortable 

 livelihood from the scraps left by the Beaver." 



From the preceding we may rightly infer that it was a 

 good swimmer. Professor John Macoun tells me that he has 



' N. A. Fauna, No. 22, 1902, pp. 71-2. 'Journey, 1795, p. 386. 



MENT 



