FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Rio Grande Short-tailed Shrew. — Cryptotis herlandieri^Qaivd). 

 Size slightly greater than parva, pelage shorter. Upper- 

 parts, in winter, chestnut, in summer, ash-brown; under- 

 parts grayish. Total length, 3.3 inches; tail vertebrae, .76 

 inch; hind foot, .48 inch. Found in "Lower Rio Grande 

 Valley, on both sides of the river, and probably the coast 

 region of southern Texas also. Limits of range unknown." 

 (Merriam) 



Ths species of the genus Cryptotis are not as abundant north 

 of the Rio Grande as they are southward . The group reaches 

 its greatest development in Mexico and Central America, 

 and a few species have even penetrated into South America. 

 The Little Shrew is easily identified by the combination of' 

 small size and short tail. In general habits it is much like 

 other Shrews, showing a fondness for dark, damp localities 

 where there is an abundance of cover and plenty of insect food. 



Genus Blarina' 

 Dentition: Incisors, |; Canines, J; Premolars, j; Molars, f = 32. 



Short-tailed Shrew. — Blarina brevicauda 



and related forms 



Names. — Short-tailed Shrew; Short-tailed Blarina; JVIole 

 Shrew. Plate III. 



General Description. — A short-tailed Shrew with rather 

 robust form. External ears very much reduced ; tail less than 

 half the length of head and body ; legs short ; pelage soft and 

 velvety. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike; some seasonal variation. 



Upperparts.' — Dark slate-colored in winter, paler in summer, 

 glossy in new pelage; tail blackish above, paler below. 



Underparts. — Ashy gray. 



Immature much like adult pelage. 



Measurements. — Sexes of equal size. Total length, 5 

 inches; tail vertebrae, i inch; hind foot, .66 inch. 



Geographical Distribution. — Eastern half of North America. 



^ For a revision of this genus see Merriam, North American Fauna, 

 No. 10, 1895. This monograph is too old to include many of the forms 

 known today. 



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