Family SORICID^. 

 Genus Sorex. 



THE COMMON SHREW. 



Sorex araneus, Linnaeus. 



Plate 9. 



The insectivorous habits, long pointed snout, diminutive eyes, and short 

 velvety fur, shoM^ that the Shrev^^s are allied to the Mole and not to the 

 mice, to which they have some superficial resemblance. 



Our Common Shrew measures in length of head and body just under 

 3 inches. The tail (about i^ inches) is proportionately much shorter 

 than that of the Lesser Shrew. The teeth, unlike those of the White- 

 toothed Shrew of France and Germany, are of a reddish brown colour 

 towards their points. The animal has a strong musky odour. 



The colour of the fur on the upper parts varies a good deal in 

 intensity, from a pale brown or rusty brown in summer to a much 

 darker tint in winter. The under parts are dull greyish or yellowish 

 white. 



The Common Shrew is widely distributed, ranging throughout a great 

 part of Europe and in Norway, according to Collett, is found as high 

 up as the snow line. It also inhabits the northern parts of Asia and 

 America. 



This species is common in suitable localities over the whole of England 

 and Wales, as well as the mainland of Scotland, though unknown in the 

 Shetlands, Orkneys and Outer Hebrides, and also in Ireland. In the three 



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