Common Shrew 
They are considerably larger than the common shrew and 
darker coloured, black above and white or ashy beneath; like 
muskrats they have the hind feet and tail broadened and fringed 
with stiff hairs for swimming. 
Species and Varieties of Long-tailed Shrews 
There are a number of minute long-tailed shrews which are 
perfectly distinct from one another, but so small are they and 
so much alike in superficial appearance that it is hard to dis- 
tinguish them without dealing with technical terms. If we examine 

Upper jaw of Shrew enlarged, showing ‘“‘ unicuspid teeth.” (After Miller.) 
the teeth of a shrew we will find in the upper jaw three kinds: 
first, a pair of large protruding incisor teeth in the front, almost 
tusks when we consider the size of the shrew; second, three 
large teeth (molars) on each side in the back of the mouth, and 
third, four or five simple pointed teeth on each side, situated 
between the other two. These last are called (in the shrew) 
unicuspid or single pointed teeth, and furnish us the best aid in 
distinguishing these little animals. 
Our species may be grouped as follows: 
A. LENGTH 3.80—4.60 INCHES. FIVE UNICUSPID TEETH ON EACH SIDE 
Al. TAIL LESS THAN 1.80 INCHES 
1. Common Shrew. Sorex personatus Geoffrey. Description and 
range as above. 
2 Labrador Shrew. S. personatus miscix Bangs. Larger, paler and 
grayer. 
Rae Labrador and Hudson Bay region. 
3. Smoky Shrew. S. fumeus Miller. Larger than the common 
shrew, and dark slate coloured, shading into lighter ash 
below, browner in summer. 
Range. Colder and mountainous regions, New England, New 
York and in the Alleghanies. 
186 


