726 SORICIDZ& 
Description :—This species is distinguishable at a glance from the 
Common Shrew of Britain by having its dusky upper side much more 
strongly contrasted with the light colour of the flanks. Its most 
remarkable character is seen in the dentition. The posterior or fifth 
unicuspid tooth of the upper jaw (#2) is tending to disappear; in more 
than half of the individuals examined it is lacking, sometimes from 
one side of the jaw only, but more frequently from both sides. When 
this tooth is absent, the four remaining unicuspids appear to be some- 
what enlarged in compensation. 
In size and proportions S. granti? agrees fairly closely with English 
specimens of S. araneus castaneus, but averages slightly larger than 
Common Shrews from the Scottish mainland. The ears, hands, feet, tail, 
and the quality of the fur are as in the Common Shrew. With regard 
to colour, adults have the upper side of a deep blackish brown, perhaps 
darker than the “clove-brown” of Ridgway, the dorsal surface of 
the head and neck is slightly grizzled with tawny-brown, the under 
side is silvery or smoky-grey rather than yellowish or brownish as in 
S. a. castaneus, and this colour runs far up the flanks appearing in 
contrast with the dark upper side. Between the colours of the upper 
and under parts a narrow, inconspicuous, grey-brown flank-band 
intervenes, rarely it is “ wood-brown,” in which case it is more sharply 
contrasted with the back. The type and another female (collected 
23rd April) are moulting into a scarcely less dusky summer coat. 
The adolescent pelage, judging from specimens collected in May 
and August, is of a lighter brown colour above, the precise shade 
being between “seal-brown” and “clove-brown,” somewhat as in 
S. a. castaneus, with a flank-band near “ wood-brown.” 
DIMENSIONS IN MILLIMETRES :— 


















| 
= | $8.5 
es 252 
No. Date. 33 No. Date. por = 
he ges 
SPECIMENS FROM ISLAY, CAUGHT AND MEASURED BY R. W. SHEPPARD. 
Matgs. | FEMALES. 
| 
73 24tb April 1912 . 75 36 18 72 25th April1912 . 88 87 13 
74 24th April 1912 . 77 36 LS) i) 276) 26th April1912. . 75 37 13 
77 =| 26th April 1912. 79 87 13 81 30th Aprill912.. 78 36 12 
80 80th April 1912 . 80 36 13 | 96 8rd May 1912 . 77 85 12 
82 | 80th April1912.| 80 386 138 106 10th May 1912 .| 75 85 12 
838 | 80th April 1912. 80 37 13 157 8rd August 1912 . 75 35 12 juv. 
84 80th April 1912 . 78 388 18 158 8rd August1912 . 80 84 12°55, 
92 2nd May 1912 . 78 35 12 161 5th August1912 . 78 86 ” 
95 2nd May 1912... 75 35 12 165 8th August 1912 . 70 38 12 
98 | 7th May1912 . 75 35 12 
100 | 8th May1912 .| 75 35 12 ‘Average of 18 
101 8th May1912.. 76 36 12 adults of both 7:3 86 12°6 
105 10th May 1912 . 75 86 138 | sexes | 


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