726 



SORICID^ 



Description : — This species is distinguishable at a glance from the 

 Common Shrew of Britain by having its dusky upper side much more 

 strongly contrasted with the light colour of the flanks. Its most 

 remarkable character is seen in the dentition. The posterior or fifth 

 unicuspid tooth of the upper jaw (/2) is tending to disappear ; in more 

 than half of the individuals examined it is lacking, sometimes from 

 one side of the jaw only, but more frequently from both sides. When 

 this tooth is absent, the four remaining unicuspids appear to be some- 

 what enlarged in compensation. 



In size and proportions S. grantii agrees fairly closely with English 

 specimens of S. araneus castaneus, but averages slightly larger than 

 Common Shrews from the Scottish mainland. The ears, hands, feet, tail, 

 and the quality of the fur are as in the Common Shrew. With regard 

 to colour, adults have the upper side of a deep blackish brown, perhaps 

 darker than the " clove-brown " of Ridgway, the dorsal surface of 

 the head and neck is slightly grizzled with tawny-brown, the under 

 side is silvery or smoky-grey rather than yellowish or brownish as in 

 6". a. castaneus, and this colour runs far up the flanks appearing in 

 contrast with the dark upper side. Between the colours of the upper 

 and under parts a narrow, inconspicuous, grey-brown flank-band 

 intervenes, rarely it is "wood-brown," in which case it is more sharply 

 contrasted with the back. The type and another female (collected 

 23rd April) are moulting into a scarcely less dusky summer coat. 

 The adolescent pelage, judging from specimens collected in May 

 and August, is of a lighter brown colour above, the precise shade 

 being between " seal-brown " and " clove-brown," somewhat as in 

 vS. a. castaneus, with a flank-band near " wood-brown." 



DIMENSIONS IN MILLIMETRES:- 



Type. 



