Comparisons.—Paler and more definitely tricolored than S. v. obscurus; also with relatively shorter palate, narrower rostrum and smaller teeth. For comparison with S. v. alascensis see account of that subspecies.
Remarks.—S. v. shumaginensis occurs together with Sorex cinereus over much of southwestern Alaska. Part of the range of shumaginensis falls within the tundra of the Arctic Life-zone. This may be a partial explanation of the tricolored pattern of the animal. Sorex tundrensis, S. cinereus ugyunak, and S. cinereus haydeni, shrews which dwell mostly in treeless areas, are markedly tricolored, or bicolored. Sorex arcticus, however, although tricolored, is found in forested areas.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 340. Alaska: Sawtooth Mts., Nome River, 2 AMNH; Nulato, 5 BS; St. Michaels, 1 BS; Bethel, 7 BS; Aniak, 1 BS; Skeventna River, 1 BS; 6 mi. WSW Snowshoe Lake, 1 KU; 1 mi. NE Anchorage, 1 KU; Tyonek River, 48 BS; Hope, 15 BS; Hope, Mts. near, 13 BS; Moose Camp, 3 AMNH; Kenai Peninsula, 24 AMNH; Kakwok River, 80 mi. up, 1 BS; Kakhtul River, 5 BS; Kakwok, 3 BS; Goodnews Bay, 1 BS; Lake Aleknagik, 6 BS; Nushagak River, 25 mi. above Nushagak, 1 BS; Dillingham, 1 BS; Nushagak Village, 15 BS; Homer, 1 AMNH; Kenai Mts., 37 AMNH; Seldovia, 24 AMNH; Barabor, 1 AMNH; Caribou Camp, 7 AMNH; Ugagik River, 3 BS; Becharof Lake, 8 BS; Cold Bay, 14 BS; Kanatak, Portgage Bay, 4 BS; Chignik, 6 BS; Moller Bay, 1 BS; Alaska Peninsula, near Popof Island, 6 AMNH; Frosty Peak, 15 BS; Morzhovoi Bay, 7 BS; Ungu Island, 3 BS; Sand Point, Popof Island, 45 AMNH; Popof Island, 3 BS.
Marginal Records.—Alaska: Nome River; Nulato; Kuskokwim River, 200 mi. above Bethel, Crooked Creek (Jackson, 1928:126); 6 mi. WSW Snowshoe Lake; Seldovia; mts. near Hope; Morhzovoi Bay; thence along coast to St. Michael.
Sorex vagrans obscurus Merriam
Sorex vagrans similis Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 5:34, July 31, 1891, nec. S. similis Hensel, Zeitschr. der Deutsch. Geolog. Gesellsch., 7:459, 1855 (= Neomys similis).
Sorex obscurus Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 10:72, December 31, 1895, new name for Sorex vagrans similis Merriam.
Sorex obscurus obscurus, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 79:15, December 31, 1912.
Type.—Adult female, skin and skull; No. 23525/30943, U. S. Biol. Surv. Coll.; obtained on August 26, 1890, by Vernon Bailey and B. H. Dutcher from near Timber Creek, 8200 ft., Lemhi Mts., 10 mi. SSW Junction (now Leadore), Lemhi Co., Idaho.
Range.—Mountainous interior of western North America from central Alaska east across Yukon and southwestern Northwest Territories to northeastern Alberta, south in the mountains through north-central and western Washington, Idaho, western Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, into northern New Mexico.