Maxillary breadth.—Distance between lateral tips of maxillary processes (f to f´).
Figs. 1 and 2. Showing where certain cranial measurements were taken. × 3½. (Based on Sorex vagrans obscurus, from Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi., W junction of Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, British Columbia, ♀, 28545 KU.)
In descriptions of color, capitalized terms refer to those in Ridgway (1912). In addition the numerical and alphabetical designations of these terms are given since a knowledge of the arrangements of these designations enables one quickly to evaluate differences between stated colors. Color terms which are not capitalized do not refer to any precise standard of color nomenclature.
In the accounts of subspecies, descriptions, unless otherwise noted, are of first year animals as herein defined. Descriptions of color are based on fresh pelages.
Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. Those in other collections are identified by the following abbreviations:
| AMNH | American Museum of Natural History |
| CM | Carnegie Museum |
| ChM | Chicago Museum of Natural History |
| CMNH | Cleveland Museum of Natural History |
| FC | Collection of James S. Findley |
| HC | Collection of Robert Holdenreid |
| SGJ | Collection of Stanley G. Jewett |
| CDS | Collection of Charles D. Snow |
| AW | Collection of Alex Walker |
| NMC | National Museum of Canada |
| OSC | Oregon State College |
| PMBC | British Columbia Provincial Museum of Natural History |
| SD | San Diego Natural History Museum |
| BS | United States Biological Surveys Collection |
| USNM | United States National Museum |
| UM | University of Michigan Museum of Zoology |
| OU | University of Oregon Museum of Natural History |
| UU | University of Utah Museum of Zoology |
| WSC | Washington State College, Charles R. Conner Museum |
In nature, the subspecies of Sorex vagrans form a cline and are distributed geographically in a chain which is bent back upon itself. The subspecies in the following accounts are listed in order from the southwestern end of the chain clockwise back to the zone of overlap.
The synonymy of each subspecies includes the earliest available name and other names in chronological order. These include the first usage of the name combination employed by me and other name combinations that have been applied to the subspecies concerned.