96 



SHORT.TAILED SHREW. 



(Blarina brevicauda Say). 



Called also Mole Shrew, North Eastern Mole Shrew, Large 

 Bob-tail Shrew and Large Blarina. 



Order Insectivora. Family Soricidse. 



The short-tailed shrew is taken here as the most common 

 representative of its family in West Virginia. It is distributed 

 generally throughout the State, being found most often in de- 

 ciduous woods, weedy or grassy fields, along fences, or in any 

 location where there is shade or where decaying vegetable matter 

 affords a complete or partial covering to the ground. Its geo- 

 graphical range, as given by Rhodes, is "Canadian, transition 

 and upper austral zones ; Atlantic Ocean to Nebraska and Man- 

 itoba ; Quebec to Virginia ; replaced southward by B. carolinensis, 

 a distinct species." 



Full-grown specimens are about five inches in length; tail 

 one inch. Form rather stout and pig-like, legs short, nose 

 pointed. Color sooty-plumbeous or lead-colored above, becom- 

 ing slightly lighter below. Fur fine and glossy and varying in 

 depth of color with change of light. Eyes very small and incon- 

 spicuous, ears small and hidden in fur, teeth tipped with dark 

 chestnut. 



The shrews frequent underground burrows and surface 

 runways and may occasionally be seen traveling openly over 

 the ground in fields and woods, evidently in search of food. They 

 are active both night and day and do not hibernate. When 

 frightened, or while engaged in fighting with other animals, or 

 occupied in family altercations they emit a strong, disagreeable 

 odor. This odor evidently renders them distasteful in a measure 

 to other predacious mammals and birds, as shrews are fre- 

 quently killed by them and left uneaten. 



