FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



nearly unicolor. Upperparts dull sooty slate color; tail 

 dusky above and below ; underparts only slightly paler than 

 upperparts. Total length, 6 inches; tail vertebrse, 2.8 

 inches; hind foot, .8 inch. Found in "Klamath Basin, 

 Oregon and thence northward along east side of Cascade 

 range to Puget Sound (Port Moody, British Columbia); 

 westward (probably through Klamath River Valley) to 

 coast of California, and southward to Sonoma County." 

 (Merriam) 



Palmer Water Shrew. — Neosorex hendirii palmeri (Merriam). 

 Larger and blacker than typical hendirii. Upperparts 

 glossy black; underparts sooty slate color; tail dusky above 

 and below. Total length, 6.6 inches; tail vertebra, 2.9 

 inches; hind foot, .8 inch. Found along "Coast of Oregon 

 and Willamette Valley; limits of range unknown." 

 (Merriam) 



Olympic Water Shrew. — Neosorex hendirii alhiventer 

 (Merriam). 

 Larger than typical hendirii, with longer tail and white 

 underparts. Upperparts sooty slate color; underparts 

 white, with dusky wash on pectoral region and on belly; 

 tail above, blackish, below, slightly paler, no marked color 

 line between upper and lower sides. Total length, 6.6 

 inches; tail vertebr£e, 3.1 inches; hind foot, .84 inch. 

 Found in Olympic Mountains of Washington. 



The Water Shrews are the largest members of the Shrew 

 family found in North America and are beautiful little 

 creatures. The family characters are readily recognized in 

 the long, sharp nose, tiny eyes, simple forefeet, and fine, close 

 fur. From the other Shrews they may be distinguished by 

 large size, long tail, slaty black upperparts, and broad, fringed, 

 hind feet. In size of body they may be equalled or exceeded 

 by the species of Blarina, the Short-tailed Shrews, but the total 

 length of the Water Shrews is noticeably greater. • 



These Shrews frequent small streams or the shores of 

 marshes and are truly aquatic in habit. They are never 

 encountered in dry or arid sections and seemingly do not go 

 very far from water. Probably a large part, if not most, of 

 their food is caught in the water, and the structure of these 

 animals indicates that they are well adapted for this type of 

 existence. The close pelage keeps the Water Shrew from 

 wetting through to the skin, and the large, partly webbed, 

 hind feet serve as capable propelling organs. 



There is much to be learned of the life-history of the mem- 



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