1108 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



at Norway House' and E. Hollis got one at Touchwood Hills/ 



so that it doubtless ranges throughout Manitoba. 



ENvi- It is always found near the water and is probably more 



^NT aquatic than the Cooper Shrew. The Shoal Lake specimen I 



found floating in the water in a night-heronry. It was a mile 



Fig. 252 — Skull of Richardson Shrew (Sorex rkkardsfmi). (Double natural size.) 

 From Merriam's Synopsis. Plate VI, N. A. Fauna 10, 1895. Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. Agr. 



at least from dry land, and most likely was being carried to the 

 heronry by one of the birds, who later decided that the speci- 

 men was not savoury enough to eat. 



Bailey found it quite common at Elk River, Minn., and 

 much like the Common Shrew in habits.' 



The above-mentioned specimen, recorded by Hollis, was 

 taken with cheese bait, November 7, after the snow had fallen. 

 It was but ten yards from water. 



A specimen taken at Norway House by Preble on June 

 22 contained 6 embryos.^ 



This is all the definite information I can find concerning 

 the species. 



ITS CON- No doubt it resembles its European congener {S. araneus) 



in habits as closely as it does in appearance. Bell describes^ 

 the latter as feeding on mollusks, worms, and insects, and so 

 pugnacious that two are rarely seen together except fighting. 

 If two be confined in the same box, the stronger kills and 

 devours the weaker one. He believes that they are much 

 preyed on by Moles and owls. Cats also will kill them, but 

 rarely eat them, being repelled by the musky smell. 



' N. A. Fauna, No. 22, 1902, p. 73. 'Zoologist, August 15, 1902, p. 297. 



' Rep. Om. and Mam. for 1887 (pub. 1888), U. S. Dep. Agr., p. 435. 



* Loc. cit., see Note i. "Br. Quad., 1874, pp. 143-4. 



