184 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 10 



trast with color of rest of head; fur at base slate-black; feet and 

 tail unicolor, dull sepia; whiskers blackish. Winter skins are some- 

 what darker than summer ones. 



Cranium. — Of the high, arched type, as in S. vagrans. See figure 2 and 

 table of cranial measurements. 



Measurements. — See table. 



Range. — Salt marshes bordering the south arm of San Fran- 

 cisco Bay, at least from near Belmont, San Mateo County, around 

 to Melrose, Alameda County. For localities see table. 



Hi marks. — Sorex halicoetes resembles S. sinuosus in notably 

 blackish coloration; but sinuosus is most extreme in this respect. 

 The Larger size, brown ears, and totally different cranial outline 

 in halieoi lis separates it from sinuosus. From 8. v. vagrans, halir 

 cot lis is distinguished at a glance by its dark colors, sooty instead 

 of warm vandyke brown above, and bistre instead of silvery 

 brown beneath ; the ears of halieoi tes are of the same color as the 

 whole dorsal surface (including ears) of vagrans. While these 

 differences in coloration are considerable, comparison of skulls 

 shows no differential features of moment; so that the near rela- 

 tionship of halicoetes with vagrans seems probable. When the 

 pelage of halicoetes is very much worn, the general color is. 

 dulled by the slaty bases of the hairs showing through, the super- 

 ficial colored portions being much reduced. In fresh pelage 

 there is some variation in the purity of the sooty brown tone of 

 coloration. In some skins there is a distinct mottling in fine 

 pattern, due to an admixture of minute hair-tippings of light 

 brown. 



