Part 15

In western British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon no evidences of intergradation between S. v. vagrans and the races setosus, permiliensis, bairdi, yaquinae, or pacificus are seen. In this region S. v. vagrans occurs sympatrically with one or the other of these subspecies. Different degrees of differentiation thus obtain between the subspecies vagrans as here defined and the surrounding subspecies of Sorex vagrans to wit: complete intergradation and allopatry in Utah with S. v. obscurus; partial intergradation and partial sympatry with S. v. obscurus in the foothill region from Idaho to British Columbia; no intergradation and complete sympatry with all the other races of Sorex vagrans from the Cascades to the coast and south to San Francisco Bay. The relationship of S. v. vagrans to the wandering shrews of the high Sierra is discussed on page 58.

Throughout most of the Great Basin and Columbian Plateau Sorex vagrans is, with the exception of the rare S. merriami and S. preblei, the only small shrew. In the Cascades and in the coastal lowlands it is the only small shrew except for S. cinereus and S. trigonirostris, both extremely rare and local in this region. S. vagrans seemingly competes to a certain extent with the larger S. trowbridgii in western Washington and seems to be partially dominant to trowbridgii, at least in marshy habitats (Dalquest, 1941:171).

Specimens examined.--Total number, 1197.

BRITISH COLUMBIA: Osoyoos District: Okanagan, 20 PMBC; Okanagan Landing, 2 PMBC; Nahun Plateau, 2 PMBC. Vancouver District: Vancouver, 2 PMBC. New Westminister District: Port Moody, 16 BS; Westminster Jct., 4 AMNH; Langley, 1 BS; Vedder Crossing, 1 PMBC; Huntingdon, 69 NMC; Sumas, 16 BS; Cultus Lake, 1 NMC. Similkameen District: Princeton, 6 Mile Creek, 1 NMC. Hedley, Stirling Creek, 7 NMC; Fairview-Keremeos Summit, 5 NMC; Oliver, 1 NMC; Westbridge, 6 NMC; Osoyoos, 1 PMBC; Osoyoos-Bridesville Summit, 4 NMC; Cascade, 7 NMC. Nelson District: Kuskonook, 1 PMBC; Rossland, 14 NMC; Trail, 2 NMC; Creston, 4 PMBC, 4 NMC; near Creston, 7 NMC. Cranbrook District: Cranbrook, 5 BS; Yahk, 2 NMC; Yahk Camp 6, 2 NMC; Goatfell, 2 NMC. Fernie District: Newgate, 3 NMC.

WASHINGTON: Whatcom Co.: Blaine, 1 BS; Beaver Creek, 5 WSC; Glacier, 1 BS; Mt. Baker Lodge, 1 WSC; Lake Whatcom, 1 BS; Barron, 2 BS. Okanogan Co.: Sheep Mtn., 3 BS; E. end Bauerman Ridge, 1 BS; Oroville, 1 BS; Hidden Lakes, 1 BS; Loomis, 1 BS; Conconully, 1 BS; Twisp, 1 BS. Ferry Co.: 5 mi. W Curlew, 2 BS. Stevens Co.: Marcus, 1 BS. Pend Oreille Co.: Canyon, 1 WSC; Metaline, 2 BS; Sullivan Lake, 1 BS. San Juan Co.: East Sound, Orcas Island, 3 BS; Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, 1 BS; San Juan Park, 2 WSC; Blakely Island, 1 KU; Richardson, 6 BS. Skagit Co.: Cypress Island, 1 KU; Hamilton, 1 BS; Sauk, 1 BS; Avon, 3 BS; Mt. Vernon, 2 BS; La Conner, 5 BS. Island Co.: San de Fuca, Whidby Island, 3 BS; Greenbank, Whidby Island, 2 BS; 3 mi. N Clinton, Whidby Island, 1 BS. Snohomish Co.: Oso, 2 BS; Hermosa Point, Tulalip Indian Reservation, 7 mi. W and 1/2 mi. N Marysville, 3 KU. Chelan Co.: Entiat, 2 BS. Lincoln Co.: 6 mi. E Odessa, 4 BS. Spokane Co.: Marshall, 7 BS. Clallam Co.: Neah Bay, 29 BS; 8 mi. W Sekin River, 1 WSC; mouth Sekin River, 1 WSC; Dungeness, 1 BS; Port Townsend, 3 BS; Ozette Indian Reservation, 1 CMNH; Sequim, 4 BS; Tivoli Island, Ozette Lake, 1 CMNH; Garden Island, Ozette Lake, 3 CMNH; Elwah, 1 WSC; Blyn, 1 BS; Soleduck River, 1 BS; 12 mi. S Port Angeles, 1 WSC; Forks, 9 CMNH, 1 BS; Cat Creek, 1 WSC; Lapush, 5 BS. Jefferson Co.: Jefferson Ranger Station, N Fork Hoh River, 5 CMNH; Duckabush, 6 BS. Kitsap Co.: Vashon Island, 2 BS. King Co.: Redmont, 2 BS; Kirkland, 20 BS; Seattle, 1 WSC, 3 KU; Northbend, 2 BS: Lake Washington, near Renton, 2 BS; Kent, 1 BS; Enumclaw, 1 BS. Grays Harbor Co.: Lake Quinault, 9 BS; Aberdeen, 20 BS; Westport, 5 BS, 2 WSC; Oakville, 1 BS. Mason Co.: Lake Cushman, 11 BS; Hoodsport, 1 BS; North Fork Skokomish River, 1 BS; Shelton, 2 BS. Pierce Co.: Puyallup, 6 BS; Steilacoom, 1 BS; 6 mi. S Tacoma, 2 BS; Roy, 3 BS; Bear Prairie, Mt. Rainier, 1 BS; Reflection Lake, Mt. Rainier, 1 WSC. Kittitas Co.: Blewett Pass, 3 BS; Easton, 3 BS; 2 mi. E Cle Elum, 4 FC; Ellensburg, 2 BS. Grant Co.: Moses Lake, 1 BS; 9 mi. S and 1 mi. W Neppel, 1 UM. Whitman Co.: Hangman Creek, Tekoa, 1 WSC; 4 mi. ENE Pullman, 1 KU; 2 mi. N Pullman, 2 WSC; 2 mi. NW Pullman, 1 WSC; 2 mi. W Pullman, 1 WSC; Pullman, 5 WSC; Armstrong, 1 WSC; 5 mi. NE Wawawai, 1 BS; Wawawai, 5 WSC. Thurston Co.: Nisqually Flats, 2 BS; Nisqually, 1 BS; 4 mi. S Olympia, 1 BS; Tenino, 4 BS. Pacific Co.: Tokeland, 4 BS; 1 mi. S Nemah, 2 FC; 1 mi. N Bear River, Willapa Bay, 8 FC; 1/4 mi. N Bear River, 3 FC; 3-1/2 mi. E Seaview, 6 FC; Ilwaco, 1 BS. Lewis Co.: 8 mi. W Chehallis, 2 BS; Chehallis, 2 BS; Toledo, 1 BS. Yakima Co.: Selah, 7 KU; Wiley City, 4 BS. Wahkiakum Co.: Cathlamet, 1 BS. Skamania Co.: 45 mi. SE Toledo, 2 BS; Carson, 1 BS; Stevenson, 1 BS; 15 mi. NW White Salmon, 1 BS. Klickitat Co.: Trout Lake, 15 mi. S Mt. Adams, 2 BS; 15 mi. N Goldendale, 1 WSC; Goldendale, 1 BS. Walla Walla Co.: College Place, 1 KU. Columbia Co.: Starbuck, 3 BS. Garfield Co.: 1 mi. E Pomeroy, 1 SGJ. Asotin Co.: 21 mi. SE Dayton, 1 BS; Rogersburg, 1 BS.

IDAHO: Bonner Co.: 4 mi. S Sandpoint, 1 UM. Kootenai Co.: Coeur d'Alene, 2 BS. Shoshone Co.: Osburry, 1 BS; Mullan, 2 BS. Latah Co.: Felton's Mills, 1 WSC; Cedar Mtn., 5 WSC. Lewis Co.: Nezperce, 2 BS. Idaho Co.: Seven Devils Mtn., 1 BS. Adams Co.: Summit of Smith Mtn., 7500 ft., 5 KU; New Meadows, 1 BS; Tamarack, 1 BS. Washington Co.: 1 mi. NE Heath, SW slope Cuddy Mtn., 4000 ft., 7 KU. Boise Co.: Bald Mtn. R. S., 10 mi. S Idaho City, 1 BS. Elmore Co.: Cayuse Creek, 10 mi. N Featherville, 1 BS. Canyon Co.: Nampa, 5 BS. Blaine Co.: Sawtooth City, 5 BS; Alturas Lake, 1 BS. Bonneville Co.: 10 mi. SE Irwin, 5 BS. Bannock Co.: Pocatello, 1 BS, 1 KU; 1 mi. W Bancroft, 1 KU; Swan Lake, 1 BS. Owyhee Co.: Grasmere, 1 SGJ. Cassia Co.: 10 mi. S Albion, Mt. Harrison, 1 BS.

MONTANA: Sanders Co.: Prospect Creek, near Thomson Falls, 4 BS. Lake Co.: Flathead Lake, 5 BS. Ravalli Co.: Bass Creek, NW Stevensville, 2 BS; 2 mi. NE Stevensville, 1 UM; Corvallis, 4 BS; 6 mi. E Hamilton, 1 KU.

OREGON: Clatsop Co.: Seaside, 1 BS. Washington Co.: 5 mi. SE Hillsboro, 1 BS; Beaverton, 1 BS. Multnomah Co.: Portland, 20 BS; Portland, Switzler Lake, 5 BS. Hood River Co.: 2 mi. W Parkdale, 1 BS; north slope Mt. Hood, 2 BS. Umatilla Co.: 10 mi. W Meacham, 2 BS; Meacham, 3 BS. Union Co.: Elgin, 2 BS; Kamela, 2 BS; Hot Lake, 2 BS. Wallowa Co.: 25 mi. N. Enterprise, 4 BS; Wallowa Lake, 23 BS; S Wallowa Lake, 1 BS. Clackamas Co.: Estacada, 1 KU. Marion Co.: Salem, 8 BS; Permilia Lake, 2 BS. Benton Co.: Corvallis, 2 BS; 5 mi. SW Philomath, 5 BS. Linn Co.: Shelburn, 1 BS. Jefferson Co.: 20 mi. W Warm Springs, 2 BS. Grant Co.: Beech Creek, 6 BS; Austin, 1 BS; Strawberry Butte, 1 BS; Strawberry Mts., 12 BS. Baker Co.: Homestead, 1 BS; Cornucopia, 11 BS; Rock Creek, 1 BS; Bourne, 7 BS; McEwen, 1 BS; Huntington, 1 BS; Anthony, 42 AMNH. Lane Co.: north slope Three Sisters, 3 BS; Vida, 1 BS; Mapleton, 1 BS; Eugene, 2 BS; 10 mi. S McKenzie Bridge, 1 BS; Florence, 1 BS. Deschutes Co.: Paulina Lake, 7 BS; Lapine, 8 BS. Crook Co.: 1 SGJ. Douglas Co.: Winchester Bay, 1 SGJ; Scottsburg, 3 BS; Drain, 5 BS; Lookingglass, 1 BS; Diamond Lake, 6 BS. Coos Co.: Empire, 5 BS. Curry Co.: Port Orford, 1 BS; Gold Beach, 4 BS. Klamath Co.: Anna Creek, Mt. Mazama, 1 BS; Crater Lake, 14 BS; Upper Klamath Marsh, 2 BS; Ft. Klamath, 35 BS; Klamath Falls, 6 BS. Lake Co.: 10 mi. SW Silver Lake, 3 BS; west fork Silver Creek, Yamsay Mts., 4 BS; Plush, 1 BS; Warner Creek, Warner Mts., 1 BS; Warner Mts., 3 BS; Gearhart Mts., 17 SGJ; Harney Co.: Diamond, 2 BS; Keiger Gorge, Steens Mts., 3 BS. Malheur Co.: 8 mi. W Jordon Valley, 1 BS.

WYOMING: Lincoln Co.: 13 mi. N and 2 mi. W Afton, 6 KU; 10 mi. N Afton, Salt River, 2 BS; 9 mi. N and 2 mi. W Afton, 6 KU; 7 mi. N and 1 mi. W Afton, 4 KU; Cokeville, 1 BS; 12 mi. N and 2 mi. E Sage, 2 KU; 6 mi. N and 2 mi. E Sage, 1 KU.

CALIFORNIA: Del Norte Co.: Smith River, 2 BS; Crescent City, 20 BS. Siskiyou Co.: Beswick, 1 BS; Hornbrook, 3 BS; Brownell, Klamath Lake, 1 BS; Mayten, 2 BS; Squaw Creek, Mt. Shasta, 5 BS; Upper Ash Creek, Mt. Shasta, 1 BS; upper Mud Creek, Mt. Shasta, 8 BS; Wagon Camp, Mt. Shasta, 5 BS; Warmcastle Soda Springs, Squaw Creek Valley, 2 BS; Sisson, 7 BS. Modoc Co.: Davis Creek, Goose Lake, 1 BS. Humboldt Co.: Humboldt Bay, 10 BS. Trinity Co.: Canyon Creek, 2 BS. Shasta Co.: Fort Crook, 11 BS; Dana, 17 BS; Fall Lake, Fall River Valley, 3 BS; Cassel, 2 BS; 12 mi. E Burney, 1 BS; Lassen Peak, 13 BS; Kellys, Warner Creek, 1 KU; Drakes Hot Springs, Warner Creek, 2 BS. Mendocino Co.: Russian Gulch State Park, 2 FC. Plumas Co.: 12 mi. NE Prattville, 2 BS; Spring Garden Ranch, Grizzly Mts., 3 BS; Sierra Valley, 1 BS. Sierra Co.: Lincoln Creek, 1 BS. Sonoma Co.: Petaluma, 3 BS; Point Reyes, 7 BS. Placer Co.: Donner, 3 BS. El Dorado Co.: Tallac, 3 BS. Mono Co.: Mt. Conness, 1 BS; Mono Lake, 1 BS; near Mammoth, 8000 ft., head of Owens River, 2 BS. Inyo Co.: Alvord, 1 BS.

NEVADA: Elko Co.: Mountain City, 1 BS; Three Lakes, 1 KU; west side Ruby Lake, 3 mi. N White Pine Co. line, 8 KU; Ruby Mts., 9 BS; W side Ruby Lake, 3 BS. White Pine Co.: W side Ruby Lake, 3 mi. S Elko Co. line, 1 KU. Nye Co.: Cloverdale, Reese River, 3 BS.

UTAH: Weber Co.: Beaver Creek, S Fork Ogden River, 2 UU; Huntsville, 10 mi. E Ogden, 1 UU; Hooper Bay Refuge, 4200 ft., 1 UU; Riverdale, 4200 ft., 3 UU; Riverdale, 4250 ft., 1 UU; 3 mi. SE Ogden, 2 UU; Snow Basin, 2 UU; Snow Basin, S part Wheeler Canyon, 1 UU; Uinta, 2 mi. W Weber Canyon entrance, 4 UU; 2 mi. W Uinta, 1 UU. Salt Lake Co.: City Creek Canyon, 6 mi. NE Salt Lake City, 4700 ft., 2 UU; 1 mi. up City Creek Canyon, 4600 ft., 1 UU; 3/4 mi. above Forks, City Creek Canyon, 1 UU; The Firs, Millcreek Canyon, 1 UU; Olympus Water Box, 1 UU; Salamander Lake, Lamb's Canyon, 9000 ft., 3 UU (near obscurus); Salt Lake City, 7500 ft., 1 UU; 1 mi. W Draper, 4500 ft., 6 UU; Draper, 4500 ft., 5 UU; 1-1/2 mi. SW Draper, 4500 ft., 1 UU; 3 mi. SW Draper, 4400 ft., 2 UU; 3 mi. S Draper, 4400 ft., 2 UU; 1 mi. S Draper, 4500 ft., 1 UU. Juab Co.: W side Deep Creek Mts., Queen of Sheba Canyon, 8000 ft., 3 UU. Wasatch Co.: Midway Fish Hatchery, 5450 ft., 1 UU.

Marginal records.--BRITISH COLUMBIA: Okanagan; Westbridge; Kuskonook; Cranbrook. MONTANA: Flathead Lake; 6 mi. E Hamilton; Prospect Creek. IDAHO: Cedar Mtn.; New Meadows; Alturas Lake; 10 mi. SE Irwin. WYOMING: 13 mi. N and 2 mi. W Afton; 6 mi. N and 2 mi. E Sage. IDAHO: 1 mi. W Bancroft; Swan Lake. UTAH: Beaver Creek, South Fork, Ogden River; Midway Fish Hatchery; west side Deep Creek Mts., Queen of Sheba Canyon, 8000 ft. NEVADA: Baker Creek (Hall, 1946:120); Reese River (ibid.); 2 mi. S Hinds Hot Springs (ibid.). CALIFORNIA: Mono Lake (Jackson, 1928:110); near Mammoth; Alvord; Mount Conness; Donner; Buck Ranch (Jackson, 1928:110); Warner Creek, Drake Hot Springs (ibid.); Canyon Creek; Cuddeback (Jackson, 1928:105); Novato Point (ibid.), thence northward along the coast to WASHINGTON: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. BRITISH COLUMBIA: Port Moody.

=Sorex vagrans obscuroides= new subspecies

Type.--First year female, skin and skull; No. 30064/42074, U. S. Biol. Surv. Coll.; obtained on August 9, 1891, by Frank Stephens from Bishop Creek, 6600 ft., Inyo Co., California, original no. 811.

Range.--The Sierra Nevada of California, north at least to El Dorado County, intergrading northerly with S. v. vagrans.

Diagnosis.--Size medium for the species; average and extreme measurements of 5 topotypes are: total length, 107 (103-112); tail, 47 (45-50); hind foot, 12.8 (12-13.5). Skull relatively broad interorbitally; color of dorsum in summer pelage nearest (17'''k) Olive Brown.

Comparisons.--Differs from S. v. vagrans, with which it intergrades to the north, in: longer tail and total length; skull larger and relatively broader interorbitally; color in summer grayer (less reddish), the lighter subterminal color bands of the hair often showing through the darker tips and imparting a grizzled appearance to the dorsum. Differs from S. v. parvidens to the south in: skull relatively broader interorbitally and less flattened; teeth slightly larger.

Remarks.--S. v. obscuroides has long been called S. v. obscurus. In fact, obscuroides is separated from the range of obscurus by the intervening, smaller subspecies S. v. vagrans. S. v. obscuroides resembles S. v. obscurus in color and size but the skull is smaller, although relatively slightly broader. The resemblance in color is possibly due to the fact that obscuroides, like obscurus, is a high mountain form. S. v. obscuroides intergrades with S. v. vagrans along the crest of the Sierra between Yosemite National Park and Lassen Peak and on the eastern slope of the Sierra from approximately Mammoth northward. Specimens from Donner are intergrades but are closest to S. v. vagrans. Although all specimens from Lassen Peak are referable to S. v. vagrans, some show cranial characters of obscuroides.

Specimens examined.--Total number, 76. CALIFORNIA: Mono Co.: Mt. Dana, 6 BS; Mt. Lyell, 11 BS. Mariposa Co.: Tuolumne Meadows, Muir Meadow, 9300 ft., 1 BS; Tuolumne Meadows, Mt. Unicorn, 1 BS; Tuolumne Meadows, N base Mt. Lyell, 8 BS; Tuolumne Meadows, Soda Springs, 4 BS; Lake Tenaya, 5 BS. Madera Co.: San Joaquin River, 8000 ft., 4 BS. Fresno Co.: Horse Corral Meadows, 3 BS. Mono Co.: head of Owens River near Mammoth, 2 BS. Inyo Co.: Bishop Creek, 5 BS; Round Valley, 1 BS. Tulare Co.: E. Fork Kaweah River, 7 BS; Mt. Whitney, 5 BS; Whitney Creek, Mt. Whitney, 4 ChM; Whitney Meadows, 9700 ft., 1 BS; Mineralking, 2 BS; N. Fork Kern River, 9600 ft., 1 BS; S. Fork Kern River, 4 BS; Kern Lakes, 1 BS.

Marginal records.--CALIFORNIA: Pyramid Peak; near Mammoth; Round Valley; Bishop Creek; Mt. Whitney; Kern Lakes; Halstead Meadows; Horse Corral Meadows; east fork Indian Canyon (Jackson, 1928:121).

=Sorex vagrans parvidens= Jackson

Sorex obscurus parvidens Jackson, Jour. Mamm., 2:161, August 19, 1921.

Type.--Adult male, skin and skull; No. 56561, U. S. Biol. Surv. Coll.; obtained on October 3, 1893, by J. E. McLellan from Thurmans Camp, Bluff Lake, 7500 ft., San Bernardino Mts., California.

Range.--Confined, so far as known, to the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains, San Bernardino Co., California.

Diagnosis.--Size medium for the species; measurements of two specimens from the San Bernardino Mountains are: total length, 105, 106; tail, 41, 48; hind foot, 12, 14. Upper parts in summer Olive-Brown to Buffy-Brown; cranium flattened and relatively narrow; unicuspids and incisors relatively small.

Comparisons.--For comparison with S. v. obscuroides, the only adjacent subspecies, see the account of that subspecies.

Remarks.--S. v. parvidens is seemingly an uncommon mammal. I have been informed by Terry Vaughan that repeated attempts by him to obtain it in suitable habitat in the San Gabriel Mountains failed. This shrew is probably no longer in reproductive continuity with Sorex vagrans of the Sierra Nevada.