FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Total length, 3.9 inches; tail vertebras, .8 inch; hind foot, .55 

 inch. Found on "Peninsula of Florida, south of latitude 

 28°." (Merriam) 



Sylvan Short-tailed Shrew. — Blarina hrevicauda hulophaga 

 Elliot. 

 Resembling carolinensis but lighter colored; tail very short. 

 Upperparts uniform silvery gray to light brownish; under- 

 parts slightly paler; tail above brown, below brownish white. 

 Total length, 3.7 inches; tail vertebrae, .7 inch; hind foot, 

 .5 inch. Found in Murray County, Oklahoma. 



Dismal Swamp Short-tailed Shrew. — Blarina telmalestes 

 Merriam. 

 Resembling typical hrevicauda but hind feet longer and color 

 different. Upperparts uniform dark slate-gray, slightly 

 darker on nose and rump ; feet and tail blackish ; underparts 

 like upperparts. Total length, 4.8 inches; tail vertebrce, i.i 

 inches; hind foot, .64 inch. Found in Dismal Swamp, 

 Virginia. 



The Short-tailed Shrews, subspecies of Blarina hrevicauda, 

 may be told by their robust (for a Shrew) bodies, rather 

 large size (comparatively) and short tails. In addition, the 

 pelage is very soft and mole-like. 



These Shrews are widely distributed in the eastern states 

 and southern Canada, and display that trait which is quite 

 characteristic of the family in North America, a preference for 

 dark, damp localities. Mossy banks, old logs, leaf-covered 

 forest floors all afford shelter and harbor food for these little 

 hunters. Although they do not climb above the ground, they 

 go everywhere else and scout on the surface and under the 

 surface. They follow the runways and use the burrows of 

 other mammals and on occasion dig their own subterranean 

 paths. They are active throughout the year and although 

 seldom seen are about during daylight hours. 



It is a rather peculiar fact that while these Shrews are a 

 successful group in eastern North America, they have never 

 become established like their relatives, the Long-tailed Shrews 

 (Sorex), in western North America. 



The Short-tailed Shrew usually has five young in a litter and 

 the nest is in an underground den or under rocks or stumps. 

 The female makes a warm nest and lines it with shredded 

 material such as grass and leaves. The young may be bom 

 from April to fall or even later. 



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