312 



AIAALMALS OF AMERICA 



animal was in the habit of hoarding for the 

 winter." 



UnHke the Long-tailed Shrews, this species is 

 to a certain extent a digger. It burrows just 

 beneath the surface of the ground in summer, 

 and makes furrows in the snow in winter : and, 

 unlike the true Mole, it spends much of its time 

 in the open air from preference, running about 

 over the fallen leaves of the forest or along the 

 shaded galleries of stone w^alls, which it is as 

 fond of following as is the \\'easel. The result 

 of the digging habit is probably to be seen in 

 the size of the fore feet, which are larger and 

 broader than the hind ones. 



Of the domestic habits of the Mole Shrew 

 we know very little, and that, in a general way, 

 would seem to point to anything but conjugal 

 felicity or fidelity, and their fraternal relations 

 may safely be set down as below par. The first 

 pairing season is probably in April, and two or 

 three litters are produced each season. The 

 mother builds a nest of grass and leaves in drv, 

 underground situations, to which it resorts not 

 only for its own shelter, but for that of its young. 

 Four to six young compose a litter, and, as with 

 our native Mice, the young are born at all sea- 

 sons of the year, though less frequently in the 

 winter time. 



WATER SHREW 



Neosorex palustris {Richardson) 



Other Names.— Marsh Shrew, Beaver Mouse. 



General Description.— Similar in many respects to 

 Common Shrew l)ut much larger. Nose pointed, elon- 

 gate ; ears inconspicuous : body moderately slender ; tail 

 quite long, nearly half total length; tore feet short; 

 hind feet larger, adapted for swimming, having white 

 fringes of bristle-like hair; pelage very soft. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors,^*; Canines,-^' ; Pre- 



fect. There are eight species and subspecies divided 

 into two subgenera, having for their most conspicuous 

 superficial diflference the degree of contrast between 

 up|)er and lower |)arts. the first, or Xcosorex, group 

 being sharply bicolored animals ; the second, or Ato- 

 phyrax group, having under parts more like upper parts. 



molars, ; — ; Molars, 



'■i2. 



Pelage. — ."Xdults : Sexes identical, no noticeable 

 seasonal variation. Pelage very thick and soft; above, 

 dusky brown to very dark gray sprinkled with hoary ; 

 under parts white, silvery in some lights ; the white of 

 the under parts meeting the dark sides in a sharply 

 defined line ; tail above and at tip, seal brown ; below 

 white. \'iUN(.: Similar to adults. 



Measurements. — Total length. 6 inches ; tail ver- 

 tebrae, 2.7 inches ; hind foot, .75 inch. 



Range. — Minnesota to east base of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, north to 64° latitude. 



Food. — Mainly insects. 



Remarks. — The Water Shrews are easily distin- 

 guished from the other Shrews not only by their larger 

 size but by the sharply contrasting color pattern of 

 slate-gray above, white below, and by their specialized 



Related Species 



Water Shrew. — Neosorex palustris (Richardson). 

 Ty])ical animal as described above. Minnesota to east 

 base 01 kocky Mountains. 



Rocky Mountain Water Shrew. — W-osorcx navi- 

 gator luii'ii/ator (Baird). Smaller than Common Water 

 Shrew. Rocky Mountains and outlying ranges from 

 British Columbia to southern Colorado, and the Sierra 

 Xcvada of California. 



New England Water Shrew. — Xcosorex albiharhis 

 Cope. Similar to Common Water Shrew but under 

 parts dusky. Kastern North .Xnierica from Mountains 

 of Pennsylvania and New York northward to Labrador. 



Bendire Water Shrew. — Xcosorex bendirii hendirii 

 (Mcrriani), A member of the subgenus Atophyrax: 

 Size large, tail long; sooty plumbeous above, paler 

 below ; tail dusky ; not bicolor. Klamath Basin, Oregon, 

 northward along east sides of Cascades to Puget Sound, 

 westward to coast of California. 



The group of Swimming Shrews have large 

 feet, the hind ones being very long, broad, and 

 fimbriate: the toes are all fimbriate, the third 

 and fourth being united at the base and slightly 

 webbed. These aquatic Shrews are of very large 

 si7.e. and have very long tails, and are found on 

 the borders of streams, lakes, and marshes. 



The Marsh Shrew ranges from central Min- 

 nesota to the east base of the Rocky Mountains. 

 It is six inches in length, the tail exceeding two 

 and one-half inches; its feet are fringed with 



white bristle-like hairs. Its fur is sooty brown 

 mixed with hoary above, and the under jjarts are 

 grayish white. The tail is silver white beneath 

 and dusky above. It is a good swimmer, and has 

 been called the Beaver Mouse by the Indians, on 

 account of its presence in the houses of the 

 Beaver. Little is known concerning its habits. 

 Mr. Seton captured one in the runway of a 

 Marsh Mouse, and he concludes that " it preys on 

 them regularly." The ca])turcd .specimen was 

 " a female evidently suckling young." 



