MAMMALS. 



7 



early writings, but many of these are imperfect and hesitating, and 

 I think are better ignored, though it is indeed probable that most of 

 them relate to the Common Shrew {Sorex kfragonunts, Herman). By 

 absolute records it would be difficult, if not impossible, to trace out 

 the progress and any extensions which the different species have 

 made. Dr. Buchanan "White, as late even as 1893 (in his list), says : 

 "All probably more or less common, but we possess examples of only 

 one of them, viz. the "Water Shrew." 



Sorex tetragonurus, Hei-man. Common Shrew.^ 



"When it is found to have been recorded that this species was detected 

 on the summit of Mhealfourvonie, a mountain in Inverness north of 

 the Caledonian Canal, as long ago as 1848 and 1837 by Mr. A. 

 Hepburn — i.e. at an elevation of some 2700 feet, and far north of our 

 present boundaries — it does not appear to be a rash conclusion that 

 their distribution was continuous through all the districts to the 

 southwards. However that may be, there is abundance of evidence 

 now to show the continuous nature of its dispersal. "We have records 

 from almost sea-level to even higher altitudes than the above. They 

 appear to be equally at home, at least in summer, on rich lowland 

 pastures and on rugged, stony hillsides. Mr. Godfrey found them 

 on the steep hillsides of Glen Ogle, and records and specimens sent 

 from all parts speak to its general and wide distribution on the 

 mainland of Britain. Mr. Godfrey also obtained several at the 

 Bridge of Ericht, Loch Eannoch side, in 1902. 



Sorex minutus, X. Lesser Shrew. 



Of this we have fewer records as yet. On the low-lying "Links" of 

 the Tentsmuir Mr. William Berry of Tayfield sends us the first 

 authentic record, and a specimen was sent to Mr. Eagle Clarke at the 



^ The Common Shrew at the time I write, November 1904, lias not been satis- 

 factorily recorded from Mull — on one occasion at least a very young Mole having been 

 sent to me as a Common Shrew. Another animal had been sent to Mr. Thomas as a 

 Shrew, but I have not ascertained what it was, so it is just possible that one might have 

 been correctly sent. However that may be, the well-known distribution has been 

 " continental " as applied to Great Britain, and not "insular." As Millais tells us : "It 

 is unknown in Shetland, but has been found ' thinly distributed in the Orkneys ' (quoting 

 the volume of our series on these islands), " having been found in Hoy and Walls." 



Millais also adds that " the Lesser Shrew is unknown in Orkney and Shetland." 

 But this statement has since been proved to be inaccurate, as Mr. Eagle Clarke has 

 captured specimens in Orkney within the last few months (date at November 1904), 

 and we have already seen that it is known to ascend to many other high places in 

 Scotland and elsewhere (v. Annals Scot. Xat. Hist., 1892, p. 42). 



