SORICIDE 623 
a gland covered by two rows of coarse hairs. This secretes a 
peculiar fluid, on which the odour of the animal depends; this 
odour being evidently protective, and rendering the creature secure 
against the attacks of many predaceous animals. 
The geographical range of the Common Shrew is exceedingly 
-wide, extending eastwards through Europe and Asia (north of the 
Himalayas) to North America. 
The Lesser Shrew (8. pygmeus') is far less common in England 
and Scotland, although more abundant in Ireland, where S. vulgaris 
is unknown. It is distinguished from the latter not only by its 
inferior dimensions, but also by the circumstance that the third 
upper incisor is not longer than the fourth, and by the considerably 
shorter length of the forearm and manus. ‘This species extends 
through Europe and Asia as far as the island of Saghalin. Both 
Fic. 287.—The Common Shrew (Sorex vulgaris). 
this and the preceding species generally live in wooded districts, 
making their nests under the roots of trees, or in slight hollows. 
The great mortality noticeable among the Shrews in the early part 
of the autumn is probably due to insufficiency of food. The breed- 
ing season extends from the latter part of April to the beginning 
of August. The young, which are blind, naked, and toothless at 
birth, are very quickly developed. The number in a litter is 
usually from five to seven, but may be as many as ten. 
The Alpine Shrew (S. alpinus), which is restricted to the Alpine 
region of Central Europe, is slightly larger than the common 
species, from which it is distinguished by the longer tail, the length 
of which exceeds that of the head and body, by the fur being dark 
on both surfaces of the body, and also by the larger size of the 
upper canine. 
In North America S. bendirei is by far the largest species of the 
genus; and, as in many other species of the same country, the 
fourth upper incisor is relatively small. In S. hoyi (separated by 
1 Syn. S. minutus. 
