Within the _Sorex vagrans_ complex, the only characters of taxonomic significance that I have detected are in size and color. It is true that cranial proportions, such as relative size of rostrum, may change from population to population, but these proportions seem to me to be dependent upon actual size of the individual shrew as I shall elsewhere point out. Of the cranial measurements here employed, palatal length and least interorbital breadth are the most significant and useful. Color in the _S. vagrans_ group seems to be in Orange and Cadmium Yellow, colors 15 and 17 of Ridgway (1912). No specimens actually possess these pure colors, but most colors in these shrews are seen to be derived from the two mentioned by admixture of black and/or neutral gray. In color designations an increase in neutral gray is indicated by an increased number of prime signs ('), whereas increase in black is indicated by progressive characters of the Roman alphabet (_i_, _k_, _m_). Thus, 17''_k_ is grayer than 17'_k_ and 17''_m_ is blacker than 17''_k_. In subspecific diagnoses in this report, color and size, and sometimes relative size, are the characters usually mentioned. [Illustration: FIG. 3. Two measurements (in millimeters) reflecting tooth-wear plotted against one another. First year and second year individuals of _Sorex vagrans vagrans_, all taken in August at Willapa Bay, Washington, are completely separated. Open circles represent teeth of second year shrews; solid circles represent teeth of first year shrews.] PELAGE CHANGE In general, winter pelage is darker than summer pelage in these shrews. Winter pelage comes in first on the rump and spreads caudad and ventrad. The growth line of incoming hair is easily detected on the fur side of the skin. Throughout the winter the color of the pelage changes, often becoming somewhat browner, although no actual molt takes place. This was noted by Dalquest (1944) who assumed that the color change resulted from molt although he was unable to detect actual replacement of hairs. Summer pelage usually comes in first on the back or head and moves posteriorly and laterally. Time of molt depends on latitude and altitude. Summer pelage may appear fairly late in the season and may account for the anomalous midsummer molt noted by Dalquest. Fresh pelages of summer and winter are best seen in first year animals and are less variable than are worn pelages and hence are used as the basis of color descriptions. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION Pacific Coastal Section