96 Ronald S. Caldwell and Hal Bryan 



cies of shrews. Five species, including four long-tailed species, were 

 taken in the talus slopes and rich mesic woodland at Bad Branch Falls, 

 Letcher County. These were Sorex dispar, S. fumeus, S. cinereus, 

 Microsorex hoyi, and Blarina brevicauda. This is the greatest number of 

 shrew species known from a single location in Kentucky. We also col- 

 lected S. fumeus and S. longirostris in the same pitfall traps in hard- 

 wood forest in Barren County. Both species were also collected with M. 

 hoyi in a mesic forest in Ohio County (Western Coal Field). 



The three smallest species of long-tailed shrews in Kentucky — 

 Sorex cinereus, S. longirostris and Microsorex hoyi — are now known 

 from riparian areas within the Western Coal Field. Microsorex hoyi and 

 S. cinereus have been collected together in the Eastern Coal Field (Har- 

 lan and Letcher counties). Sorex longirostris and S. cinereus have yet to 

 be found together in Kentucky. Where they occur sympatrically in south- 

 ern Indiana, S. cinereus occupies lowland sites and S. longirostris 

 occurs primarily in upland habitats (T. French, pers. comm.; Hamilton 

 and Whitaker 1979). Rose (1980) reported that S. cinereus occurred 

 more often in forests while S. longirostris was captured more frequently 

 in old-fields. 



KEY TO THE SORICIDAE OF KENTUCKY 



To facilitate a more complete knowledge of soricid distribution within the 

 state, the following eclectic key is presented to aid collectors. General references 

 that can be used in conjunction with the key are Burt and Grossenheider (1976); 

 Hall (1981); Jackson (1928); Whitaker (1968, 1980); and Junge and Hoffman 

 (1981). 



la. Less than 5 unicuspids visible from the side, or if 5, the third and fifth 

 greatly reduced (Figs. 2A, B, C); medial tine (Fig. 2F) of first upper 



incisor present or absent 2 



lb. Five unicuspids visible from side, fifth may be very reduced; medial 



tine present 4 



2a. Three or four unicuspids visible from the side (Figs. 2A, B); upper 



incisors not possessing medial tine 3 



2b. Unicuspids 3 and 5 greatly reduced, may not be readily apparent in 

 side view (Fig. 2C); fifth unicuspid peglike, third unicuspid platelike; 



medial tine of upper incisors well developed (Fig. 2F) Microsorex 



hoyi 

 3a. Three unicuspids visible in side view (Fig. 2A); fourth unicuspid hid- 

 den from view; total number of teeth 30 Cryptotis parva 



3b. Four unicuspids visible in side view (Fig. 2B); first and second upper 

 unicuspids large, third and fourth smaller and subequal; total number 



of teeth 32 {Blarina) 8 



4a. Total length usually greater than 140 mm; fringe of hairs between toes; 

 maxillary breadth 6.0 mm or greater Sorex palustris 



