[Illustration: FIG. 28. Distribution of the Merriam and Trowbridge shrews in Washington. A. _Sorex merriami merriami._ B. _Sorex trowbridgii trowbridgii._ C. _Sorex trowbridgii destructioni._] Moore (1942) has shown that shrews eat the seeds of the Douglas fir and may be a serious check on the reproduction of this important tree. The Trowbridge shrew is the most abundant shrew in the fir forests and probably constitutes the principal shrew that might be classed as a pest. A specimen containing 4 embryos was taken near Shelton, Mason County, on April 23, 1937. Males with enlarged, greenish testes were taken in April of 1938, 1939 and 1940. Specimens obtained in other months showed no indications of breeding. =Sorex trowbridgii trowbridgii= Baird _Sorex trowbridgii_ Baird, Rept. Pacific R. R. Survey, 8 (pt. 1):13, 1857. _Type._--Two cotypes were obtained at Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon. The skin of one (the lectotype) was entered in the U. S. National Museum catalogue in July, 1855, and the skull in January, 1857. The other was obtained by J. Wayne on July 10, 1855. _Racial characters._--Small size and narrow skull. _Measurements._--The average measurements of 38 adults from King County, Washington, are: total length 115.3; length of tail 54.4; hind foot 13.4. _Distribution._--Forested areas from the Pacific Coast eastward through the Cascades to Stehekin (Jackson, 1928: 96), 2 mi. S. Blewitt Pass (Jackson, 1928: 96) and Satus Pass (M.V.Z.). =Sorex trowbridgii destructioni= Scheffer and Dalquest _Sorex trowbridgii destructioni_ Scheffer and Dalquest, Jour. Mamm., 23:334, August 13, 1942. _Type._--Obtained on Destruction Island, Jefferson County, Washington, by V. B. Scheffer on April 22, 1941; type in United States National Museum. _Racial characters._--Large size and wide skull. _Measurements._--Thirty topotypes average: total length 122.5; length of tail 56.7; hind foot 14.3; weight 7.5 grams. _Distribution._--Known only from Destruction Island, 35 acres in area, lying 4 miles off the Washington Coast. =Sorex vagrans= Baird Wandering shrew _Description._--This species closely resembles the cinereous shrew in body form. Its head and body measure about 2-1/4 inches; the tail slightly less than 2 inches. In summer the upper parts are reddish brown and the underparts gray tinged with brownish. In winter the upper parts are more dusky. Several races of the wandering shrew range over western North America from southwestern British Columbia south to southern Mexico. Two races occur in the state of Washington.