Sorex cinereus cinereus Kerr
Cinereous Shrew
Sorex arcticus cinereus Kerr, Animal Kingdom, p. 206, 1792. (Type from Fort Severn, Ontario, Canada.)
Sorex cinereus cinereus Jackson, Jour. Mamm., 6:56, February 9, 1925.
Specimens examined.—Total 56, as follows: Alaska: Chatanika River, 700 ft., 14 mi. E and 25 mi. N Fairbanks, 3; N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 10; Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 2; E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. SE Northway, 1. Yukon Territory: 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2550 ft., 1; McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 2; W side Lewes River, 2150 ft., 2 mi. S Whitehorse, 2; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 4; 1½ mi. S and 3 mi. E Dalton Post, 2500 ft., 10. British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 9; Hot Springs, 3 mi. WNW jct. Trout River and Liard River, 6; ¼ mi. S jct. Trout River and Liard River, 4; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 1. Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 1.
Remarks.—Shrews from extreme northwestern British Columbia (Stonehouse Creek) average slightly larger than typical S. c. cinereus, especially in length of tail. These animals show definite evidence of intergradation with the larger subspecies, S. c. streatori, but are referable to S. c. cinereus. The pallor of some shrews from east-central Alaska (Chatanika River and Salcha River) suggests intergradation with the pale S. c. hollisteri.
Alcorn found the cinereous shrew at most of his trapping stations. It was captured in mouse traps baited with "chewed" rolled oats; one was taken in a trap baited with a grasshopper. Rand (1944:35) and Alcorn each found this shrew to be one of the commoner mammals along the Alaska Highway, but Alcorn did not find it to be so abundant as some of the rodents in areas in which he trapped. The cinereous shrew was taken principally in moist woodlands, grassy areas, and adjacent to water. One female taken on July 18 was lactating.
Sorex cinereus streatori Merriam
Cinereous Shrew
Sorex personatus streatori Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 10:62, December 31, 1895. (Type from Yakutat, Alaska.)