THE WATER SHREW AND OTTER IN AYRSHIRE. 293 



XXVI. 



ON THE OCCURRENCE IN NORTH A YRSHIRE 

 OF THE WATER SHREW AND OTTER, 



BY D. A. BOYD. 



[Read 27th September. 1887.] 



The Water Shrew, Sorex jodiens, PalL 



In August, 1885, when botanising on the Glen Burn, 

 between West Kilbride and Fairlie, I had an oppor- 

 tunity of observing under very favourable circum- 

 stances an apparently full-grown example of this 

 fine species. Nearly a mile above its entrance to 

 the sea, the stream flows over a ledge of sandstone 

 rock, and makes a considerable fall into a deep 

 gorge, the sides of which are picturesquely wooded. 

 Having descended into the bed of the stream 

 immediately below the fall, I was engaged in 

 examining some large moss-grown stones, when I 

 observed the animal in the act of emerging from a 

 hole beneath one of the largest. It raised its head, 

 and stood for a few moments sniffing the air and 

 looking towards me, apparently uncertain whether 

 to advance or retire. It then retreated into the 

 hole, and did not again make its appearance. 



My close proximity, as well as the position 

 assumed by the animal, afforded me a satisfactory 

 opportunity of observing the elongated muzzle so 

 characteristic of the genus, and the conspicuous 

 white breast, which contrasts very strikingly with 

 the brown fur of the sides and back. 



