MAMMALS OF MARYLAND 



23 



which the water shrew may inhabit, and one of the specimens men- 

 tioned by Hooper was taken one mile south-southeast of Cranesville, 

 Preston County, W. Va., at an altitude of 2,600 feet, only a few yards 

 from the Maryland State line. 



This shrew does not hibernate and is active all winter. It is primarily 

 nocturnal in habits, but occasionally is abroad during daylight hours. 

 It is well adapted to an aquatic life and is one of the best swimmers of 

 the nonmarine mammals. It can swim, dive, float, run along the bottom 

 of a pond or creek, and actually run upon the surface of the water for 

 some distance. Jackson (1961, p. 38) says that he once saw a water 

 shrew run a distance of more than 5 feet across the surface of a pool. 

 The body and head of the animal were entirely out of the water, the 

 surface tension of the water supporting the shrew, and at each step 

 the animal took there appeared to be a little globule of air held by 

 the hair fringe on the hind feet. 



Conaway (1952), writing of the western subspecies navigator^ says 

 that it apparently has an extensive breeding season since pregnant 

 females have been collected in March, suckling females the first week 

 in June, half grown young early in July, a female with five small 

 embryos on August 2, and a male with enlarged testes on 9 August. 

 The number of embryos varies from 4 to 8, and the gestation period 

 is probably about 21 days. These shrews do not live long; Conaway 

 estimates that the maximum age of any specimen obtained would not 

 be in excess of 18 months. 



The food of the water shrew consists largely of insect matter, chiefly 

 beetles and their larvae, flies, caddisflies, and mayflies. Snails, leeches, 

 small fish, and fish eggs are also consumed. Vegetable matter probably 

 supplies only a small part of the diet. 



SMOKY SHREW 



Sorex futneus fumeus Miller 



Sorex fvmeus Miller. North American Fauna, 10: 50, 31 December 

 1895. 



Type locality. — Peterboro, Madison County, N.Y. 



General distribution. — Eastern North America, from southeastern Ontario 

 and central New England to the Smoky Mountains and northern Georgia. It has 

 also been reported from central Kentucky (Barbour, 1951, p. 102) and south- 

 eastern Wisconsin (Jackson. 1928, p. 65). 



Distribution in Maryland. — Higher elevations (above 2,000 feet) in 

 the Allegheny Mountain section ; may also occur at higher elevations 

 in the Ridge and Valley section. It is not a common species in 

 Maryland. 



Distinguishing characteristics. — In summer pelage resembles Sorex 

 cinereus, but is larger, has a longer tail, bigger feet, and somewhat 



