PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE MAMMALS OF NEW YORK 361 
1858 Blarina brevicauda Baird, Mamm. N. Am. pp. 42 (part). 
1858 Llarina talpoides Baird, Mamm. N. Am. pp. 37 (part). 
1884 Llarina brevicauda Merriam, Linn. soc. New York. Trans. 1884. 
2: 66. 
1896 Blarina brevicauda Fisher, The Observer. May 1896. 7: 194. 
1898 Alarina brevicauda Mearns, Am. mus. nat. hist. Bul. g Sep. 
ESQO HOM aay 
1898 Llarina brevicauda Mearns, U.S. Nat. mus. Proc. 21: 356. 
Type locality. Near Blair, Nebraska. 
faunal position. Boreal transition and upper austral zones. 
Flabitat. Fields and woods, wet or dry marshes, borders of streams. 
Every variety of country appears to be equally attractive to this animal. 
Distribution in New York, ‘Yhe short-tailed shrew is one of the most 
abundant and widely distributed of the mammals that occur in the state. 
There are probably very few square miles in New York not inhabited by 
hundreds of individuals. 
Principal records. De Kay: ‘This shrew is found in Albany county 
and in the southern parts of the state” (’42, p.18) ... “Ihave had 
an opportunity of examining a recent specimen from Queens co. 
which I refer to this species” (’42, p 19). ‘‘ {This shrew is] commonly 
found in this state” (’42, p. 21). Merriam: “ The short-tailed shrew is, I 
presume, the most abundant of the insectivorous mammals that occur in 
the Adirondack mountains, and is found alike in the dense coniferous 
forests of the interior and the cleared and settled districts of the surround- 
ing region” (84d, p. 66). Fisher: ‘“ A common species [in the neighbor- 
hood of Sing Sing]. Almost everywhere in the woods its tunnels may be 
found running hither and thither under the matting of dry leaves or old 
decayed logs. In the open meadows it is less common though occasion- 
ally found, attracted there no doubt by the meadow mice or other favorite 
food” (’96, p. 194). Mearns: ‘“ Very abundant from Schoharie creek 
up to the higher mountain tops where it appears to be less numerous 
though several were taken on the summit of Hunter mountain” (’98b, 
Pp. 356). 
I have found the short-tailed shrew abundant at Geneva, Ontario co. 
Peterboro, Madison co. and Elizabethtown, Essex co. 
Mr Savage writes that he has taken three or four specimens near 
Buffalo. 
According to Mr Helme the short-tailed shrew is very common on 
Long Island. 
