Mole-shrew 



1117 



A large male taken at Cos Cob, October 24, 1908, weighed weight 

 22.3 grammes; an adult female taken at same place, September 

 23, weighed 17.1 grammes. 



All above, dark brownish-gray, shading on the under parts colour 

 into a much paler tint of the same colour; everywhere the coat 



Fig. 253 — Skull of Blarina brcincauda. (Doubl& natural size.) 

 (Cuts from Mcrriara's Revision. N. A. Fauna. No. lo, Plate I. Biol. Surv., U. S. Dept. Agr., 189S.) 



is silky and glossy. The under-fur is lead colour. In general, 

 summer coat is palest. Sexes alike. 



When seen alive it looks like a lead-coloured bobtailed 

 Mouse, without eyes or ears. Its superior size and very short 

 tail will easily distinguish it from others of our Shrews. 



There are six recognized races: 



brevicauda Say, the typical form. 



carolinensis Bach., much smaller. 



hulophaga Elliot, very small, pale, and short-tailed. 



peninsulcB Merriam, like carolinensis, but with larger 



hind-foot and more slaty colour. 

 aloga Bangs, a small pale brown form from Martha's 



Vineyard. 

 compacta Bangs, a small slaty form from Nantucket. 



