62 



The Canadian Field-Naturaust 



[Vol. XXXIV. 



during the first week of the month were Robin 

 (Planesiicus m. migratorius), Crow (Corvus brach'^- 

 rh^nchus) ; Raven (Corvus corax principalis) ; 

 Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis); Blue Jay 

 (Cyanocitta cristata) ; White-throated Sparrow 

 (Zonotrichia albicollis) ; Great Blue Heron (Ardea 

 herodias) ; Black-capped Chicadee (Penthestes atri- 

 capillus) ; Slate-colored Junco (Junco h^emalis) ; 

 Horned Lark (Otocoris alpesiris) and Rusty 

 Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus). On October 10, 

 a Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) and Pileated Wood- 

 pecker (Ceophloeus pileaius abieiicola) were ob- 

 served, the latter again on the 21st. One Tree Spar- 

 row (Spizella moniicola) was noted on the morning 

 of October 13. During the afternoon of the 18th, 

 Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator leucura) were 

 common. The first small flock of Snow Buntings 

 (Passerina nivalis) made their appearance the fol- 

 lowing day. A single Arctic Three-toed Wood- 

 pecker (Picoides arcticus) was observed on Oct. 

 21. Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) was noted 

 but not commonly. 



In the preparation of this article I have received 

 many courtesies from Mr. W. E. Saunders, of 

 London, Ont., and Dr. R. M. Anderson of the 

 Geological Survey, Ottawa. The late Mr. James 

 M. Macoun also of the Geological Survey, kindly 

 furnished the proper common and scientific names 

 of the trees known to occur in the region. To Mr. 

 George Visser, of Ridout, I am indebted for many 

 favors extended during the trip. 



Common Eastern Shrew, Cooper Shrew, or 

 Masked Shrew, Sorex personatus personaius I. 

 Geoffroy. 



The masked shrew is very common at Ridout, 

 persisting in nearly all situations from low woods 

 and meadows to the wooded ridges. 



Nine specimens were taken. Color. — Dorsal sur- 

 face of the body brownish-gray, the latter barely per- 

 ceptible; brown deeper on the rump. Sides slightly 

 lighter. Belly, throat and chin ashy-gray, no sharp 

 line of demarkation between color of belly and sides 

 but change taking place rather abruptly. Tail ob- 

 scurely bicolor, brownish above, paler below. Feet 

 very light brown. 



Richardson's Shrew, Sorex richardsonii 

 Bachman. 



Only three specimens of this beautiful shrew were 

 collected at Ridout. A fourth was found dead on 

 a trail through the woods but was beyond the stage 

 for proper preservation. One of the three preserved 

 was found lying dead on a trail intersecting a low 

 meadow. No marks of violence were found on 

 either of these animals but probably the pounce of 

 a cat or bird would be sufficient to extinguish life, 

 the aggressor leaving it unmutilated when discover- 



ing by the unsavory odor of its prey (which char- 

 acterizes the shrews) the reality of its mistake. 

 Few animals, I believe, devour the shrews on this 

 account, and I have seen dogs that were very re- 

 luctant to even kill them for the same reason. 



One man whom I talked with in the north firmly 

 believed that every Richardson's shrew that crossed 

 a human trail fell dead instantly ; the idea doubt- 

 less originating from the appearance of numerous 

 shrews in these places. The two which I found in 

 the traps were in low damp meadows frequented 

 by the Forest Vole (M. fontigenus) and the Mole 

 Shrew (B. brevicauda). So far as I am aware these 

 specimens represent the second record for Ontario, 

 the other being Miller's two specimens collected at 

 Peninsula Harbor, in 1896. 



Smoky Shrew, Sorex fumeus Miller. 



Only one specimen of this comparatively rare 

 shrew was collected at Ridout. Its identity among 

 many of the common shrews was for a time un- 

 certam but it has now been referred to this species 

 by both Mr. W- E. Saunders and Dr. R. M. 

 Anderson. It was collected on Oct. 12, 1918 and 

 measured: Length, 108 mm.; tail vertebratae, 44 

 mm. ; hind foot, 1 5 mm. 



Colour: — Bicolor; back, dark brownish; un- 

 derparts slightly paler rust brownish. Pelage 

 slightly glossy. 



Marsh Shrew, Water Shrew, Nesorex albi- 

 barbis (Cope). 



At Ridout I found that the water shrew was un- 

 common. Three specimens collected may be des- 

 cribed as follows: Color — Above very dark, in 

 some lights almost black, in others, faint brownish- 

 black or greyish-black, overlaid almost impercep- 

 tibly with silvery tip to some hairs giving it a slight 

 frosted appearance. Belly silvery-grey washed with 

 dusky, heaviest between forelegs. Whitish around 

 lips and chin. Tail bicolored, blackish above and 

 around the tip, white below. Feet, light brown and 

 fringed with silvery, bristle-like hairs, adapted for 

 swimming. All are apparently adult and in win- 

 ter pelage. 



It is perhaps strange that I found the water 

 shrew in only one very limited locality at Ridout. 

 This was along a small brook which flowed down 

 from the timbered hills and entered the Ridout 

 river a short distance east of the station. At in- 

 tervals its margin was grassy and moss-grown and 

 underneath this by lifting away the growth, the 

 tiny tunnels of the shrew could be seen. In a 

 space about twenty-five yards in length along the 

 western bank of this streamlet I trapped the three 

 specimens mentioned, all in four days, from Oct. 

 4 to 7, after which no more were taken. Beyond 

 doubt extended diligence would locate other small 



