CONCERNING SHREWS. 



667 



The water shrew is much like the erd shrew in general appear- 

 ance, but its fur is nearly black on the upper parts of the body, 

 instead of the reddish-brown color which marks its relative. On 

 the under parts its fur is beautifully white. The fur is very silky 

 and has the useful property of repelling water. When swimming, 

 the parts of the body which are submerged appear to be sprinkled 

 with tiny silver beads, which give the animal a very brilliant 

 appearance. This phenomenon is due to air-bubbles that cling 

 to the fur. Water shrews are fond of pools and streams that are 

 pretty well open to the sunlight. 



The following account of them is given by the writer in 

 " Longman's," already quoted : " See these water shrews, how 

 they chase one another in the pool ! Out of the water their fur 

 is black and soft, but under it a thousand air-bubbles clothe them 

 round till they flash like silver fishes in the sun. In and out of 

 the weeds they swim, picking off the fresh-water shrimps from 

 under the leaves. No sea otter is more at home under the water 

 than they. Yet are their feet not webbed, but only fringed about 

 with stiff white hairs. Instead of swimming with the direct mo- 

 tion of the water rat, the water shrew appears to move alternately 

 both its feet on either side. Unlike the common shrew, which 

 rears its young near the surface of the ground, often in the old 

 nest of a field mouse, the water shrew nests in holes under the 

 bank. It generally, I think always, appropriates some existing 

 hole, which it no doubt improves to. its liking." 



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Fig. 3. Water Shrew (Crossopits fodiens). 



Besides catching aquatic insects, the water shrew roots out 

 larvae from the muddy banks with its long snout, and does not 

 hesitate to eat moths and other like insects which fall into the 

 water and drown. The ears of this creature are peculiarly adapted 

 to prevent the entrance of water. When it goes beneath the sur- 

 face, the pressure of the water folds together three small valves, 

 which effectually close the opening of the ear. " The total length 

 of the water shrew is not quite four inches and a half, the length 



