obscurus_ ranges almost uninterruptedly over relatively large areas,
but southward in New Mexico and southwestward into Utah and Arizona,
suitable boreal habitat becomes insular in nature and obscurus there
is confined to the higher mountains. With one exception, once the
shrew populations become 'insular' in this region they become smaller
and show intergradation with _Sorex vagrans monticola_. The exception
is the population in the Sacramento Mountains of southeastern New
Mexico which is larger than _obscurus_ and has been rightly recognized
as a distinct subspecies, _neomexicanus_.
Almost without exception the range of typical _Sorex vagrans obscurus_
is sympatric with that of _Sorex cinereus_, usually the subspecies _S.
c. cinereus_. So close is this correspondence that the presence of _S.
cinereus_ comes near to being a useful aid in identifying _S. v.
obscurus_. In areas where individuals of _obscurus_ show
intergradation with _vagrans_, _Sorex cinereus_ is absent or rare. The
implication is that as the species _S. vagrans_ approaches the size of
the species S. cinereus, competition between the two increases with
resultant displacement of _cinereus_.
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 982.
ALASKA: Wahoo Lake, 69 deg. 08' N, 146 deg. 58' W, 2350 ft., 2 KU; Chandler Lake,
68 deg. 12' N, 152 deg. 45' W, 2900 ft., 1 KU; Bettles, 1 KU, 5 BS; Alatna, 1 BS;
Yukon River, 20 mi. above Circle, 1 BS; Tanana, 1 BS; Mountains near
Eagle, 18 BS; Richardson, 8 BS; head of Toklat River, 11 BS; Savage
River, 8 BS.
YUKON: MacMillan Pass, Mile 282, Canol Road, 1 NMC; MacMillan River,
Mile 249, Canol Road, 1 NMC; S. fork MacMillan River, Mile 249, Canol
Road, 2 NMC; Sheldon Lake, Mile 222, Canol Road, 5 NMC; Rose River,
Mile 95, Canol Road, 1 NMC; McIntyre Creek, 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 2250
ft. 1 KU; Nisutlin River, Mile 40, Canol Road, 6 NMC; SW end Dezadeash
Lake, 2 KU; 3 mi. E and 1-1/2 mi. S Dalton Post, 2500 ft., 1 KU.
MACKENZIE: Nahanni River Mtns., Mackenzie River, 1 BS; Fort Simpson, 3
BS; Fort Resolution, Mission Island, 1 BS.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: W. side Mt. Glave, 4000 ft., 14 mi. S and 2 mi. E
Kelsall Lake, 1 KU; Stonehouse Creek, 5-1/2 mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek
and Kelsall River, 4 KU; Bennett City, 6 BS; Wilson Creek, Atlin, 1
PMBC; McDame Post, Dease River, 6 BS; McDame Creek, 3 BS; Hot Springs,
3 mi. WNW jct. Trout River and Liard River, 1 KU; NW side Muncho Lake,
1 KU; Little Tahtlan River, 1 AMNH; Junction (4 mi. N Telegraph
Creek), 7 BS; Raspberry Creek, 16 AMNH; Klappan River Valley, 1 BS;
Chapa-atan River, 4 BS; Fort Grahame, 3 BS; Kispiox Valley, 23 mi. N
Hazleton, 1 BS; Bear Lake, site of Fort Connully, 2 BS; Tetana Lake, 1
PMBC; Hudson Hope, 2 BS; Charlie Lake, 3 PMBC; Babine Mts., 6 mi. N
Babine Trail, 5200 ft., 1 BS; Big Salmon River (S branch near Canyon),
1 BS; Ootsa Lake, 2 PMBC; Indianpoint Lake, 4 PMBC; Barkerville, 7 BS;
Yellowhead Lake, 2 NMC, 1 PMBC; N. fork Moose River, 1 BS; Moose
Lake, 2 BS; Moose Pass, 1 BS; Glacier, 7 AMNH, 12 BS; Golden, 1 BS;
Field, 2 BS; Caribou Lake, near Kamloops, 2 BS; Sicamous, 1 BS;
Monashee Pass, 4 PMBC; Paradise Mine, 3 PMBC; Level Mtn., 4 AMNH; 6
mi. S Nelson, 6 BS; Morrissey, 5 NMC; Wall Lake, 1 BS.
ALBERTA: Hays Camp, Slave River, Wood Buffalo Park, 1 NMC; Kinuso,
Assineau River, 1920 ft., 2 KU; Athabaska River, 30 mi. above
Athabaska Landing, 8 BS; Smokey Valley, 50 mi. N Jasper House, 1 BS;
Sulfur Prairie, Grande Cache River, 3 BS; Stoney River, 35 mi. N
Jasper House, 1 BS; Moose Mtn., 1 NMC; Rodent Valley, 25 mi. W Henry
House, 1 BS; Henry House, 3 BS; Jasper, 2 NMC; Shovel Pass, 4 NMC;
mouth of Cavell Creek, Jasper Park, 1 NMC; 11 mi. S Henry House, 2 BS;
15 mi. S Henry House, 1 BS; Red Deer River, 1 AMNH; 27 mi. W Banff, 3
NMC; 12 mi. WNW Banff, 4500 ft., 1 NMC; N. Fork Saskatchewan River,
5000 ft., 1 NMC; Cypress Hills, 1 NMC; Waterton Lakes Park, 53 NMC.
SASKATCHEWAN: Cypress Hills, 21 NMC.
WASHINGTON: _Okanogan Co._: Pasayten River, 1 BS; Bauerman Ridge, 1
BS; Conconully, 2 BS. _Pend Oreille Co._: 2 mi. N Gypsy Meadows, 2
WSC; Round Top Mtn., 1 WSC; head Pass Creek, 1. _Chelan Co._:
Stehekin, 4 BS; head Lake Chelan, 4 BS; Wenatchee, 1 BS. _Kittitas
Co._: Easton, 10 BS.
IDAHO: _Boundary Co._: Cabinet Mtns., E Priest Lake, 2 BS. _Adams
Co._: 1/2 mi. E Black Lake, 1 KU; 1 mi. N Bear Creek R. S., SW slope
Smith Mtn., 2 KU. _Washington Co._: 1 mi. NE Heath, SW slope Cuddy
Mtn., 4000 ft., 4 KU. _Lemhi Co._: 10 mi. SSW Leadore (type locality),
4 BS; 5 FC. _Fremont Co._: 7 mi. W West Yellowstone, 4 KU. _Custer
Co._: head Pahsimeroi River, Pahsimeroi Mtns., 1 BS. _Blaine Co._:
Perkins Lake, 1 KU. _Bear Lake Co._:--_Caribou Co._ line: Preuss Mts.,
1 BS.
MONTANA: _Glacier Co._: Sherburne Lake, 3 UM; 2-1/2 mi. W and 1-1/2 mi. S
Babb, 1 KU; St. Mary's, 6 UM; St. Mary Lakes, 9 BS; Fish Creek, 2 BS;
Gunsight Lake, 2 BS. _Flathead Co._: Nyack, 3 UM, 1 BS; 1 mi. W and
2 mi. S Summit, 1 KU. _Ravalli Co._: 8 mi. NE Stevensville, 3 BS;
Sula, 1 BS. _Meagher Co._: Big Belt Mtns., Camas Creek, 4 mi. S Fort
Logan, 7 BS. _Gallatin Co._: West Gallatin River, 4 BS. _Park Co._:
Emmigrant Gulch, 3 mi. SE Chico, 2 BS; Beartooth Mtns., 2 BS; _Carbon
Co._: Pryor Mtns., 2 BS.
WYOMING: _Yellowstone Nat'l Park_: Mammoth Hot Springs, 11 BS; Tower
Falls, 1 BS; Astringent Creek, 1 BS; Flat Mtn., 1 BS; Yellowstone
Park, 1 UM. _Park Co._: Beartooth Lake, 15 BS; SW slope Whirlwind
Peak, 1 KU; Pahaska Tepee, 6300 ft., 8 BS; Pahaska, mouth Grinnell
Creek, 15 BS; Pahaska, Grinnell Creek, 7000-7500 ft., 18 BS; 25 mi. S
and 28 mi. W Cody, 1 KU; Valley, Absaroka Mts., 14 BS; Needle Mtn., 2
BS. _Big Horn Co._: 28 mi. E Lovell, 9000 ft., 12 KU; head Trapper's
Creek, W slope Bighorn Mtns., 7 BS; 17-1/2 mi. E and 4-1/2 mi. S Shell, 1
KU. _Teton Co._: Two Ocean Lake, 6 FC; Emma Matilda Lake, 2 BS; 1 mi.
N Moran, 1 FC; 2-1/2 mi. E and 1/4 mi. N Moran, 6230 ft., 2 KU; Moran, 7
FC, 1 KU; 2-1/2 mi. E Moran, 6220 ft., 1 KU; 1 mi. S Moran, 1 FC; 3-3/4 mi.
E and 1 mi. S Moran, 9 KU; 7 mi. S Moran, 3 FC; Timbered Island, 14
mi. N Moose, 6750 ft., 3 KU; Bar BC Ranch, 2-1/2 mi. NE Moose, 6500 ft.,
1 KU; Beaver Dick Lake, 1 UM; Teton Mtns., Moose Creek, 6800 ft., 9
BS; Teton Mtns., S Moose Creek, 10,000 ft., 3 BS; Teton Pass, above
Fish Creek, 7200 ft., 15 BS; Whetstone Creek, 4 UM; Flat Creek-Gravel
Creek Divide, 2 UM; Flat Creek-Granite Creek Divide, 1 UM; Jackson, 3
KU, 2 UM. _Fremont Co._: Togwotee Pass, 5 FC; Jackey's Creek, 3 mi. S
Dubois, 1 BS; Milford, 5400 ft., 2 KU; Mosquito Park R. S. 17-1/2 mi. W
and 2-1/2 mi. N Lander, 1 KU; 17 mi. S and 6-1/2 mi. W Lander, 9300 ft., 1
KU; Mocassin Lake, 19 mi. W and 4 mi. N Lander, 10,000 ft., 1 KU; 23-1/2
mi. S and 5 mi. W Lander, 8600 ft., 1 KU; Green Mts., 8 mi. E Rongis,
8000 ft., 4 BS. _Washakie Co._: 9 mi. E and 5 mi. N Tensleep, 7400
ft., 2 KU; 9 mi. E and 4 mi. N Tensleep, 7000 ft., 2 KU. _Lincoln
Co._: Salt River Mtns., 10 mi. SE Afton, 5 BS; Labarge Creek, 9000
ft., 1 BS. _Sublette Co._: 31 mi. N Pinedale, 8025 ft., 3 KU;
Surveyor's Park, 12 mi. NE Pinedale, 8000 ft., 2 BS; N. side Half Moon
Lake, 7900 ft., 1 KU; 2-1/2 mi. NE Pinedale, 7500 ft., 2 KU. _Natrona
Co._: Rattlesnake Mts., 7000-7500 ft., 18 BS; Casper Mts., 7 mi. S
Casper, 6 BS. _Converse Co._: 21-1/2 mi. S and 24-1/2 mi. W Douglas, 7600
ft., 7 KU; 22 mi. S and 24-1/2 mi. W Douglas, 7600 ft., 4 KU; 22-1/2 mi. S
and 24-1/2 mi. W Douglas, 7600 ft., 2 KU. _Uinta Co._: 1 mi. N Fort
Bridger, 6650 ft., 1 KU; Fort Bridger, 3 KU; Evanston, 1 BS; 9 mi. S
Robertson, 8000 ft., 6 KU; 9 mi. S and 2-1/2 mi. E Robertson, 8600 ft., 1
KU; 10 mi. S and 1 mi. W Robertson, 8700 ft., 3 KU; 10-1/2 mi. S and 2
mi. E Robertson, 8900 ft., 1 KU; 13 mi. S and 1 mi. E Robertson, 9000
ft., 1 KU; 13 mi. S and 2 mi E Robertson, 9200 ft., 1 KU. _Carbon
Co._: Ferris Mts., 7800 to 8500 ft., 13 BS; Shirley Mts., 7600 ft., 7
BS; Bridget's Pass, 18 mi. SW Rawlins, 7500 ft., 2 KU; 10 mi. N and 12
mi. E Encampment, 7200 ft., 1 KU; 10 mi. N and 14 mi. E Encampment,
8000 ft., 6 KU; 9-1/2 mi. N and 11-1/2 mi. E Encampment, 7200 ft., 2 KU; 9
mi. N and 3 mi. E Encampment, 6500 ft., 1 KU; 9 mi. N and 8 mi. E
Encampment, 7000 ft., 1 KU; 8 mi. N and 14 mi. E Encampment, 8400 ft.,
3 KU; 8 mi. N and 14-1/2 mi. E Encampment, 8100 ft., 2 KU; 8 mi. N and 16
mi. E Encampment, 4 KU; 8 mi. N and 21-1/2 mi. E Encampment, 9400 ft., 2
KU; S. base Bridger's Peak, 8800 ft., Sierra Madre Mts., 3 BS; 8 mi. N
and 19-1/2 mi. E Savery, 8800 ft., 2 KU; 7 mi. N and 17 mi. E Savery,
8300 ft., 1 KU; 6-1/2 mi. N and 16 mi. E Savery, 8300 ft., 1 KU; 6 mi. N
and 15 mi. E Savery, 8500 ft., 1 KU; 5 mi. N and 10-1/2 mi. E Savery,
8000 ft., 2 KU; 14 mi. E and 6 mi. S Saratoga, 8800 ft., 1 KU. _Albany
Co._: Springhill, 12 mi. N Laramie Peak, 6300 ft., 10 BS; Laramie
Peak, N. slope, 8000 to 8800 ft., 7 BS; Bear Creek, 3 mi. SW Laramie
Peak, 7500 ft., 6 BS; 2-1/2 mi. ESE Brown's Peak, 10,500 ft., 2 KU; 3 mi.
ESE Brown's Peak, 10,000 ft., 1 KU; 27 mi. N and 5 mi. E Laramie, 6960
ft., 2 KU; 1 mi. SSE Pole Mtn., 8350 ft., 3 KU; 2 mi. SW Pole Mtn., 3
KU; 3 mi. S Pole Mtn., 8100 ft., 2 KU; 8-3/4, mi. E and 6-1/2 mi.
S Laramie, 8200 ft., 2 KU; Woods P. O., 1 BS. _Laramie Co._: 5 mi.
W and 1 mi. N Horse Creek P. O., 7200 ft., 2 KU.
UTAH: _Weber Co._: Mt. Willard, Weber-Box Elder Co. line, 9768 ft., 2
UU. _Salt Lake Co._: Butterfield Canyon, 7000 ft., 1 UU; Brighton,
Silver Lake P. O., 8700 ft., 2 UU; Brighton, Silver Lake P. O., 8750
ft., 8 UU; Brighton, Silver Lake P. O., 9000 ft., 2 UU; Brighton,
Silver Lake P. O., 9500 ft., 1 UU. _Summit Co._: Jct. Bear River and
East Fork, 2 CM; Smith and Morehouse Canyon, 7000 ft., 1 UU; Mirror
Lake, 10,000 ft., 1 UU. _Daggett Co._: Jct. Deep and Carter creeks,
7900 ft., 1 UU. _Utah Co._: Nebo Mtn., 1 mi. E Payson Lake, 8300 ft.,
1 UU; Nebo Mts., 12 mi. SE Payson Lake, 1 UU. _Wasatch Co._: Current
Creek, Uinta Mts., 1 BS; Wasatch Mts., 1 BS. _Uintah Co._: Paradise
Park, 21 mi. W and 15 mi. N Vernal, Uinta Mts., 10,050 ft., 2 CM, 3
KU; Paradise Park, Uinta Mts., 10,100 ft., 6 UU. _Sanpete Co._: Manti,
3 BS. _Sevier Co._: 7 mi. Creek, 20 mi. SE Salina, 5 CM; Fish Lake
Plateau, 2 BS. _Emery Co._: Lake Creek, 11 mi. E Mt. Pleasant, 4 CM.
_Grand Co._: Warner R. S., La Sal Mts., 9750 ft., 2 UU; La Sal Mts.,
11,000 ft., 1 BS. _Beaver Co._: Puffer Lake, Beaver Mts., 2 BS. _Wayne
Co._: Elkhorn G. S., Fish Lake Plateau, 14 mi. N Torrey, 9400 ft., 3
UU. _Garfield Co._: Wildcat R. S., Boulder Mtn., 8700 ft., 6 UU; 18
mi. N Escalante, 9500 ft., 1 UU. _Washington Co._: Pine Valley Mts., 7
BS. _San Juan Co._: Geyer Pass, 18 mi. SSE Moab, 3 CM; Cooley, 8 mi. W
Monticello, 3 CM.
COLORADO: _Larimer Co._: Poudre River, 1 KU. _Rio Blanco Co._: 9-1/2 mi.
SW Pagoda Peak, 2 KU. _Grand Co._: Arapaho Pass, Rabbit Ears Mts., 2
BS. _Boulder Co._: Willow Park, Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park, 8 UM; Longs
Peak, 1 BS; 3/4 mi. N and 2 mi. W Allenspark, 8400 ft., 5 KU; Ward, 9500
ft., 1 BS; Buchanan Pass, 1 BS; 3 mi. S Ward, 1 KU; 7 mi. NW
Nederland, 1 KU; 5 mi. W Boulder, 3 BS; Boulder, 3 BS, 1 ChM;
Nederland, 6 BS, 4 ChM; Eldora, 1 BS. _Garfield Co._: Baxter Pass,
8500 ft., 2 BS. _Eagle Co._: Gores Range, 1 BS. _Gilpen Co._: Black
Hawk, 1 BS. _Lake Co._: 3 mi. W Twin Lakes, 2 KU; 12 mi. S and 1 mi. W
Leadville, 1 KU. _Gunnison Co._: 2 mi. W Gothic, 2 FC; Copper Lake, 2
FC; Gothic, 1 FC. _Chaffee Co._: St. Elmo, 10,100 ft., 2 BS; E side
Monarch Pass, 7 mi. W Salida, 2 ChM. _Teller Co._: Glen Core, Pikes
Peak, 2 UM. _El Paso Co._: Hunters Creek, a tributary of Bear Creek,
7250-7400 ft., 1 AMNH. _Montrose Co._: Uncomphagre Plateau, 8500 ft.,
3 BS. _Saguache Co._: 3 mi. N and 16 mi. W Saguache, 8500 ft., 2 KU;
Cochetopa Pass, 10,000 ft., 4 KU; Monshower Meadows, 27 mi. W
Saguache, 2 BS. _San Juan Co._: Silverton, 4 BS. _Mineral Co._: 23 mi.
S and 11 mi. E Creede, 1 KU. _Costilla Co._: Fort Garland, 2 BS.
_Huerfano Co._: 5 mi. S and 1 mi. W Cuchara Camps, 8 KU.
NEW MEXICO: _Taos Co._: 3 mi. N Red River, 2 BS; Taos, 1 BS. _Colfax
Co._: 1 mi. S and 2 mi. E Eagle Nest, 8100 ft., 2 KU. _Sandoval Co._:
Jemez Mts., 3 BS. _Santa Fe Co._: Hyde Park, 5 mi. NE Santa Fe, 2 HC;
Santa Fe Field Station, 1 HC; Santa Fe Ski Basin, 1 KU; Pecos Baldy, 4
BS. _Torrance Co._: Manzano Mts., 2 BS.
_Marginal Records._--ALASKA: Chandler Lake, 68 deg. 12' N, 152 deg. 45' W; Yukon
River, 20 mi. above Circle; Mountains near Eagle. MACKENZIE: Nahanni
River Mts.; Fort Simpson; Fort Resolution, Mission Island. ALBERTA:
Wood Buffalo Park; Athabaska River, 30 mi. above Athabaska Landing.
SASKATCHEWAN: Cypress Hills. MONTANA: St. Mary; 4 mi. S Fort Logan;
Pryor Mts. WYOMING: 1 mi. W and 1 mi. S Buffalo, 27424 KU; Springhill,
12 mi. N Laramie Peak; 5 mi. W and 1 mi. N Horse Creek PO. COLORADO:
Boulder; Hunters Creek; 5 mi. S and 1 mi. W Cuchara Camps. NEW MEXICO:
3 mi. N Red River, 10,700 ft.; Pecos Baldy; Manzano Mts.; Jemez Mts.
COLORADO: Navajo River (Jackson, 1928:120); Silverton. UTAH: La Sal
Mts., 11,000 ft. COLORADO: Baxter Pass. UTAH: junction Trout and
Ashley Creeks, 9700 ft. (Durrant, 1952:35); Mirror Lake, 10,000 ft.;
Mt. Baldy R. S. (Durrant, 1952:53); Wildcat R. S.; Pine Valley Mts.;
Puffer Lake; Butterfield Canyon. IDAHO: Preuss Mts.; 4 mi. S Trude
(Davis, 1939:104); head Pahsimeroi River, Pahsimeroi Mts.; Perkins
Lake; 1 mi. NE Heath; _1/2 mi. E Black Lake_. MONTANA: Sula; 8 mi. NE
Stevensville. WASHINGTON: head Pass Creek; Conconully; Wenatchee;
Easton; Stehekin; Pasayten River. BRITISH COLUMBIA: Second Summit,
Skagit River, 5000 ft., (Jackson, 1928:120); Babine Mts., 6 mi. N
Babine Trail, 5200 ft.; Hazleton (Jackson, 1928:120); 23 mi. N
Hazleton; Flood Glacier, Stikine River (Jackson, 1928:120); Cheonee
Mts. (_ibid._); Level Mtn.; west side Mt. Glave, 4000 ft., 14 mi. S
and 2 mi. E Kelsall Lake. ALASKA: head Toklat River; Tanana; Alatna;
Bettles.
=Sorex vagrans soperi= Anderson and Rand
_Sorex obscurus soperi_ Anderson and Rand, Canadian
Field-Nat., 59:47, October 16, 1945.
_Type._--Adult male, skin and skull; No. 18249, Nat. Mus. Canada;
obtained on September 21, 1940, by J. Dewey Soper, from 2-1/2 mi. NW Lake
Audy, Riding Mtn. Nat'l Park, Manitoba.
_Range._--Southwestern Manitoba to central Saskatchewan.
_Diagnosis._--Size medium to small for the species; measurements of
type and two topotypes are: total length, 107, 108, 117; tail, 45, 45,
45; hind foot, 12.1, 12.3, 12.5. Color dark brownish or fuscous in
summer pelage; winter pelage unknown.
_Comparison._--Resembles _S. v. obscurus_ in size; darker than
_obscurus_ in summer pelage; cranium slightly higher and top more
nearly flat; larger and darker in summer pelage than the new
subspecies from central Montana.
_Remarks._--In their description of this subspecies Anderson and Rand
pointed out that specimens from the type locality and from central
Saskatchewan represent the dark extreme in a color cline which begins
in south-central British Columbia with "pale, brownish-tinged
animals." These authors referred shrews from Cypress Hills,
southwestern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta to _S. o. soperi_,
although they noted that these specimens, taken by themselves, are not
strikingly different from _S. o. obscurus_ from the Rocky Mountains.
The specimens from the Cypress Hills were included in _soperi_ because
the authors felt that the subspecific boundary should be drawn "where
specimens average about half way between the extremes (of the cline)
in characters."
It is true, as Anderson and Rand say, that the shrews from Cypress
Hills are hardly separable from those from, say, Waterton Lakes Park.
The specimens from the Cypress Hills are noticeably different from
specimens from the Okanagan area, but some of the latter, in my
opinion may represent intergrades between _S. v. obscurus_ and the
more reddish _S. v. vagrans_ and are not, at any rate, typical
_obscurus_. In view of the similarity of shrews from Cypress Hills to
typical _S. v. obscurus_ and since the Cypress Hills are much nearer
to the range of _S. v. obscurus_ than to the record-stations of
occurrence in central Saskatchewan and Manitoba, I have chosen to
restrict the name _soperi_ to shrews from these latter two localities.
Seemingly _S. vagrans_ is absent from the plains separating the
Cypress Hills from the Rocky Mountains and from Riding Mountain
National Park.
_Specimens examined._--none.
_Marginal records._--SASKATCHEWAN: Prince Albert National Park, 1700
ft. (Anderson and Rand, 1945:48). MANITOBA: Riding Mountain National
Park, 2-1/2 mi. NW Audy Lake (ibid.).
=Sorex vagrans longiquus= new subspecies
_Type._--First year male, skin and skull; No. 87332, Univ. Michigan
Mus. Zool.; obtained on July 21, 1942, by Emmet T. Hooper from 25 mi.
ESE Big Sandy, Eagle Creek, Chouteau Co., Montana, original no. 2184.
_Range._--Central Montana; marginal localities are: Bearpaw Mts.,
Zortman, Big Snowy Mts., Buffalo, Little Belt Mts.
_Diagnosis._--Size small for the species; measurements of three
topotypes are: total length, 101, 105, 108; tail, 39, 40, 42; hind
foot, 11.5, 11.5, 12. Color pale; summer pelage: back near (17'''_k_)
Olive Brown but hairs of dorsum with a pale, buffy band proximal from
the tips which imparts a pale over-all appearance; flanks near Wood
Brown; underparts Pale Smoke Gray, usually not with a buffy wash;
color of underparts often extending along margin of upper lip. Skull
small for species; rostrum relatively broad and heavy; relatively
broad interorbitally.
_Comparisons._--From _S. v. obscurus_, _S. v. longiquus_ differs as
follows: size smaller; skull smaller in all dimensions although
similar in proportion. From _S. v. soperi_, _S. v. longiquus_ differs
in: size smaller; color paler in summer pelage. From _S. v. vagrans_,
_S. v. longiquus_ differs in: color paler in summer pelage, less
brownish; color of venter extending higher on flanks; venter Pale
Smoke Gray, rarely tinged with buffy rather than usually tinged with
buffy. From _S. v. monticola_, _S. v. longiquus_ differs in: summer
pelage slightly paler, venter Pale Smoke Gray rather than suffused
with buffy.
_Remarks._--The subspecies _longiquus_ is obviously derived from the
neighboring _S. v. obscurus_ and differs from it mainly in size. Some
specimens of obscurus from western Montana show evidences of
intergradation with _S. v. vagrans_ in possessing a somewhat buffy
belly and these are thus more strikingly different from _longiquus_
than are other specimens of _obscurus_. Many specimens of _obscurus_
from the eastern slope of the Lewis and Clark Range in Montana show
the tricolored pattern seen in many specimens of _longiquus_. The
smallest individuals of longiquus are found on the Big Snowy
Mountains. Intergradation with _obscurus_ is seen in specimens here
referred to _S. v. obscurus_ from the Big Belt Mountains.
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 45. MONTANA: _Hill Co._: Bearpaw
Mts., 5 UM, 2 BS. _Phillips Co._: Zortman, 1 BS. _Chouteau Co._: type
locality, 3 UM; Highwood Mts., 13 BS. _Cascade Co._: Neihart, Little
Belt Mts., 1 BS. _Judith Basin Co._: 3 mi. W Geyser, 4100 ft., 1 KU;
Otter Creek, 10 mi. SW Geyser, 1 BS; Dry Wolf Creek, 20 mi. SW
Stanford, 1 BS. Buffalo, 13 mi. W Buffalo Canyon, 2 BS. _Fergus Co._:
Moccasin Mts., 15 mi. NW Hilger, 3 BS; Judith Mts., 17 mi. NE
Lewiston, 1 BS; 15 mi. S Heath, N. fork Flat Willow Creek, Big Snowy
Mts., 1 BS; Timber Creek, Big Snowy Mts., 1 BS; Crystal Lake, 6000
ft., Big Snowy Mts., 2 UM; Rocky Creek, 5600 ft., Big Snowy Mts., 3
UM; Big Snowy Mts., 3 BS. _Meagher Co._: Sheep Creek, 16 mi. N White
Sulphur Springs, Little Belt Mts., 1 BS.
_Marginal records._--MONTANA: Bearpaw Mts.; Zortman; Big Snowy Mts.;
16 mi. N White Sulphur Springs; Highwood Mts.
=Sorex vagrans neomexicanus= Bailey
_Sorex obscurus neomexicanus_ Bailey, Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 26:133, May 21, 1913.
_Type._--Adult male, skin and skull; No. 100440, U. S. Biol. Surv.
Coll.; obtained on May 29, 1900, by Vernon Bailey, from Cloudcroft,
9000 ft., Otero Co., New Mexico.
_Range._--Sacramento and Capitan Mountains of New Mexico.
_Diagnosis._--Size medium for the species; average and extreme
measurements of 4 topotypes are: total length, 105.2 (103-107); tail,
41.0 (39-42); hind foot, 13.1 (12.5-14). Color near Olive Brown in
summer; winter pelage unknown; skull large and relatively broad; teeth
relatively large.
_Comparisons._--Skull larger than that of _S. v. obscurus_ and
relatively somewhat broader; much larger in all cranial dimensions
than _S. v. monticola_.
_Remarks._--_S. v. neomexicanus_ is a well-marked subspecies seemingly
limited to the mountains of southeastern New Mexico. It is the only
species of _Sorex_ thus far recorded from that area.
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 12. NEW MEXICO: _Otero Co._: SW
slope Capitan Mts., 2 BS; 10 mi. NE Cloudcroft, 2 BS; Cloudcroft, 7
BS, 1 UM.
_Marginal records._--NEW MEXICO: SW slope Capitan Mts.; 10 mi. NE
Cloudcroft; type locality.
=Sorex vagrans monticola= Merriam
_Sorex monticolus_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 3:43, September
11, 1890.
_Sorex vagrans monticola_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 10:69,
December 31, 1895.
_Sorex melanogenys_ Hall, Jour. Mamm., 13:260, August 9, 1932,
type from Marijilda Canyon, 8600 ft., Graham Mts. [= Pinaleno
Mts.] Graham Co., Arizona.
_Type._--Adult male, skin and skull; No. 17599/24535, U. S. Biol.
Surv. Coll.; obtained on August 28, 1899, by C. Hart Merriam and
Vernon Bailey from San Francisco Mtn., 11,500 ft., Coconino Co.,
Arizona.
_Range._--Mountains of western New Mexico, eastern Arizona, and the
northern Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico.
_Diagnosis._--Size small for the species; average and extreme
measurements of 12 specimens from the White Mountains, Arizona, are:
total length, 104.3 (98-112); tail, 41.2 (37-45); hind foot, 12.0
(11-13). Summer pelage between (15'_m_) Proutts Brown and (15''_m_)
Bister, venter tinged with (15'_f_) Pale Ochraceous Buff; winter
pelage near (17'''_k_) Olive Brown; skull relatively broad.
_Comparisons._--For comparisons with _S. v. obscurus_ and _S. v.
neomexicanus_ see accounts of those subspecies. Skull slightly larger
and relatively broader than that of _S. v. orizabae_, and color
slightly paler. Differs from _S. v. vagrans_ in: winter pelage
grayish (near 17'''_k_ Olive Brown) rather than blackish (17''''_k_ or
17''''_m_ Chaetura Drab or Chaetura Black); summer pelage slightly
grayer; skull relatively slightly broader rostrally and
interorbitally.
_Remarks._--_S. v. monticola_ intergrades gradually with _S. v.
obscurus_ to the north and east; indeed the type locality is actually
in this area of intergradation. So far as I know, _monticola_ is not
in reproductive continuity with any other subspecies of _Sorex
vagrans_. Specimens from southeastern Arizona are the smallest and
seem to be the most "typical" in the sense that they are most
different from _S. v. obscurus_. Some specimens from the whole length
of the Rocky Mountain chain in the United States have for years been
referred to _monticola_. Some of these, as I have pointed out, belong
to _S. v. longiquus_, and others are intergrades between _S. v.
obscurus_ and _S. v. vagrans_. Since _vagrans_ and _monticola_
resemble one another somewhat, and since topotypes of _S. v.
monticola_ actually show the influence of intergradation with
_obscurus_, it is easy to understand how intergrades between
_obscurus_ and _vagrans_ could have been assigned to _monticola_.
Throughout most of its range, _S. v. monticola_ is the only _Sorex_
present. In some places _monticola_ may occur with _S. nanus_ or _S.
merriami_. _S. v. monticola_ occurs with the water shrew in
southeastern Arizona.
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 80.
ARIZONA: _Coconino Co._: San Francisco Mtn., 3 BS, 6 CMNH. _Apache
Co._: Spruce Creek, Tunitcha Mts., 7 BS; Springerville, 1 BS; North
Fork White River, White Mts., 12 SD; White River, Horseshoe Cienega,
8300 ft., White Mts., 5 BS; Mt. Thomas, 9500 to 11,000 ft., White
Mts., 12 BS; Little Colorado River, White Mts., 4 BS; near head Burro
Creek, 9000 ft., White Mts., 1 BS. _Graham Co._: Graham Mts., 9200
ft., 2 BS. _Greenlee Co._: Prieto Plateau, 9000 ft., S. end Blue
Range, 1 BS. _Pima Co._: Summerhaven, 7500 ft., Santa Catalina Mts., 3
BS, 1 SD. _Cochise Co._: Fly Park, Chiricahua Mts., 4 BS; Rustler
Park, Chiricahua Mts., 1 SD; Long Park, Chiricahua Mts., 1 UM;
Huachuca Mts., 1 BS. _Santa Cruz Co._: Stone Cabin Canyon, 8500 ft.,
Santa Rita Mts., 1 BS.
NEW MEXICO: _San Juan Co._: Chusca Mts., 1 BS. _Catron Co._: Mogollon
Mts., 3 BS; 10 mi. E Mogollon, 1 KU. _Socorro Co._: Copper Canyon,
Magdalena Mts., 3 BS. _Sierra Co._: Mimbres Mts., near Kingston, 1 BS.
CHIHUAHUA: Sierra Madre, near Guadalupe y Calvo, 5 BS.