32 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 66 



of kirtlandi from northeastern Ohio. Cranially, eight adults from 

 Cambridge average closer in size to Mrtlandi and have an average con- 

 dylobasal length of 21.0 and a mastoidal breadth of 11.3, contrasted 

 with an average condylobasal length of 18.4 and mastoidal breadth of 



10.1 in typical carolinensis (25 specimens from Raleigh, N.C.) and 21.0 

 and 11.9 in the type specimen of kirtlandL Apparently the entire south- 

 em portion of the Delmarva Peninsula is an area of intergradation be- 

 tween kirtlandi and carolinensis. Specimens I have examined from 

 near Wattsville, Accomack County, Va., and Cape Charles at the 

 southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula in Northampton County, Va., 

 although .still decidedly referable to kirtlandi^ are smaller in size both 

 externally and cranially than typical kirtlandi and appear to be ap- 

 proaching carolinensis, 



LEAST SHREW 



Cryptotis parva (Say) 



Sorex parvus Say, in Long, Account of an expedition from Pittsburg 

 to the Rocky Mountains, . . . 1 : 163, 1823. 



Type locality. — West bank of Missouri River, near Blair, formerly Engineer 

 Cantonment, Washington County, Nebr. 



General distrihution. — The species is distributed over most of the eastern and 

 midwestern United States, from central New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Min- 

 nesota, and South Dakota, south to Florida in the east, and northeastern Mexico 

 in the west. 



Distribution in Maryland. — Occurs in all sections of the State. 



Distinguishing characteristics. — Teeth 3/1, 1/1, 2/1, 3/1, = 30; small 

 size; brownish coloration; short tail. Most closely resembles Blarina 

 brevicauda but is smaller, more brownish, and has 30 teeth instead 

 of 32. It may be distinguished from all other shrews in Maryland by 

 its short tail. 



Measurrements, — Six adults from 3/4 mile N of Solomons Island, 

 Calvert County, measury as follows: Total length 76.3 (74-80) ; tail 



15.2 (14-16) ; hind foot 10(10-11) ; condylobasal length of skull 15.2 

 (15.0-15.6) ; palatal length 6.5 (6.4-6.9) ; cranial breadth 7.7 (7.6- 

 8.0) ; interorbital constriction 3.6 (3.5-3.7) ; maxillary breadth 5.0 

 (5.0-5.1) ; molar toothrow 5.4 (5.2-5.6). 



Habitat and habits. — Most commonly found in dry fallow fields and 

 stubble in the uplands, and in the marshes in the coastal areas. This 

 shrew appears to be abundant in some places, and scarce or absent in 

 almost identical habitat elsewhere. Along with Micro tus pennsyl- 

 vanicus, it is the most frequently taken small mammal on Assateague 

 Island, where it occurs everywhere except on the sparsely vegetated 

 beach dunes. Another area of abundance for the species is the dry 

 fallow fields of southern Maryland. In such a field, three-fourth mile 



