Speciation of the Wandering Shrew

"Speciation of the Wandering Shrew" by James S. (James Smith) Findley is a mid-20th century scientific work that investigates the evolutionary journey of the wandering shrew, with a focus on the "Sorex vagrans-obscurus" species group. The book aims to untangle the web of biological connections and speciation patterns within this group by exploring how geographic differences and specific physical traits define various subspecies, clarifying their taxonomy and ecological specializations. The work opens by laying out the study's goals, pinpointing the need to resolve uncertainties in the classification of shrew species and outlining the historical development of the "Sorex vagrans" puzzle, recognizing the groundwork laid by previous scientists; the author points out the vast amount of research done, stating that large collections of museum specimens were studied to see how variations correlated to geography and age, which leads to a more detailed analysis of the methods and discoveries that illustrate these tiny mammals' evolutionary relationships.