FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Measurements. — Sexes of equal size. Total length, 6.4 

 inches; tail vertebrae, 2.7 inches; hind foot, .8 inch. 



Geographical Distribution. — Colder portions of North 

 America. 



Food. — Insects and other forms of aquatic life. 



Fig. 12. Hind foot of Common Shrew {Sorex), above, 

 compared with the hind foot of Water Shrew {Neosorex) 

 which is fringed with stiff hairs 



Enemies. — Probably preyed on by Water Snakes and such 

 small carnivores as the Mink, but I have no personal observ- 

 ations on this point nor have I seen any actual records. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Neosorex. ^ 



Subgenus Neosorex 



Characterized by light-colored underparts in sharp contrast 

 to dark- colored upperparts. 



Richardson Water Shrew. — Neosorex palnstris palustris 

 (Richardson). 

 As described above. Found in "Parts of the Boreal Zone 

 from Minnesota to the east base of the Rocky Mountains." 

 (Merriam) 



Nova Scotia Water Shrew. — Neosorex palustris gloveralleni 

 (Jackson).' 

 Resembling typical palustris in size, but color of upperparts 

 slightly browner. Upperparts very dark blackish brown ; 

 sides slightly paler; underparts soiled whitish, lightly 

 ^ Neosorex palustris acadicus, of Miller, North American Recent 



Majnmals. 



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