Diagnosis.—Size medium for the species; average and extreme measurements of 6 topotypes are: total length, 115 (113-118); tail, 46.5 (42-48); hind foot, 14.5 (14-15) (von Bloeker, 1939:94). In winter nearly black dorsally, deep mouse gray ventrally; in summer nearly as dark dorsally as in winter, hairs of venter tipped with Clove Brown; skull short, relatively broad cranially and relatively narrow rostrally.
Comparisons.—For comparison with S. v. halicoetes see account of that subspecies.
Remarks.—This subspecies, occurring at the limits of the range of the species, is uncommon in most collections. Seven specimens were available for the original description. The summer pelage is not completely described in the original description, but is stated to be darker than the winter pelage of S. v. vagrans, and must thus be considerably darker than the summer pelage of S. v. halicoetes. Two specimens in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, from San Gregario, referred by Jackson to S. v. halicoetes, were included in the present subspecies by von Bloeker.
Specimens examined.—None.
Records of occurrence (von Bloeker, 1939:94).—California: San Mateo Co.: San Gregario. Monterey Co.: Seaside; mouth of Salinas River; Moss Landing.
Marginal records.—California: San Gregario; Seaside.
Sorex vagrans vancouverensis Merriam
Sorex vancouverensis Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 10:70, December 31, 1895.
Sorex vagrans vancouverensis, Jackson, N. Amer. Fauna, 51:106, July, 1928.
Type.—Adult male, skin and skull; No. 71913, U. S. Biol. Surv. Coll.; obtained on May 10, 1895, by Clark P. Streator, from Goldstream, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.