KEY TO LAND MAMMALS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA I43 



1893 Blarina brevioauda Merriam, North American f auaa. 31 Dec. 1895 

 no. 10, p. 10. 



Teeth 32 ; color sooty slate-brown above, more asliy below. Total length, 

 120, (4|); tail vertebrae, 25 (1); hind foot, 15 (i\). (b re vi c£luda; Lat., 

 short tail) 



The typical form of the large blarina, Blarina brevicauda 

 brevicauda, is one of the most abundant mammals in dry woods and 

 old fields throughout eastern North America, from the lower edge of the 

 upper austral zone north into the boreal zone. In the lower austral zone 

 of the southeastern United States it gives way to a smaller form, B. bre- 

 vicauda car ol in en sis (Bachman). 



Blarina parva (Say) Small blarina 

 1823 Sorex parvus Say, Long's exped. to the Eocky mts. 1:164. (Near 



Blair Neb.) 

 1895 Blarina parva Merriam, North American fauna. 31 Deo. 1895. no. 10, 

 p. 17. 

 Teefk 30 ; color brownish above, ashy below. Total length, 75 (3) ; tail ver- 

 tebrae, 15 (i'b) ; hind foot, 10 (f). (p^rva; Lat., small) 



The small blarina is common in meadows and old fields throughout 

 the upper austral and lower austral zones in the eastern United States. 

 Its range therefore extends north about to the southern border of 



New York. 



Genus Sorex Linnaeus 



1758 Sorex Linnaeus, Systenja naturae, ed. 10. 1:53. Type Sorex 

 a r a n e u s Linnaeus. 



Ears xoell ^OTeZojped, generally appearing distinctly above the fur; body slender, 

 mouse-like; tail much longer than head. (Sorex; Lat., a field mouse) 



The genus Sorex is very generally distributed throughout the 

 boreal portion of the northern hemisphere. It probably contains 75 or 

 more species. In America 42 forms are known ; of these six occur 

 within our Hmits. 



SPECIES OP SOREX 



Total length over 140 (5|) ; hind feet conspicuously fringed 



(subgenus Neosorex) S. albibarbis 



Total length under 130 (5J) ; hind feet not fringed 

 Fourth tooth in upper jaw exceedingly minute (almost in- 

 visible without aid of lens), closely wedged between 



well developed third andfifth (subgenus Mi crosor ex) S. hoyi 



Fourth tooth in upper jaw well developed (subgenus 

 Sorex) 



Tail vertebrae about 55 (2A) S. maorurus 



Tail vertebrae less than 50 (2) 

 Back conspicuously blackish S.richardsoni 



