Mole-shrew 



1127 



evidently nursing a brood, although this was July 2i. On 

 examination her stomach was found crammed full of corn-meal 

 unmixed with other food. 



It is notorious that insect-eaters turn putrid in a few hours, 

 and yet this Shrew lay on my desk in warm weather from 

 6 p. M. July 21, to noon July 22, 

 without showing any signs of cor- 

 ruption. From this I argue that 

 she had lived on corn for many 

 days previously. 



Numerous experiments and 

 observations on captive animals 

 prove that the Blarina, like its 

 smaller kin, has an enormous ap- 

 petite which must be satisfied or 

 in a very few hours the creature 

 succumbs. It makes no pretence 

 at hibernation — is as active, in- 

 deed, all winter under the snow, as 

 in summer under the grass. How, 

 then, does it support life when 

 living food is so scarce ? The an- 

 swer is not simple. 



Dormant insects undoubtedly 

 form a large part of its suste- 

 nance. As Dr. Merriam says,' and 

 I have often proved, "the rigours 

 of our northern winters seem to 

 have no effect in diminishing its 

 activities, for it scampers about 

 on the snow during the severest 

 weather, and I have known it to be out when the thermom- 

 eter indicated a temperature of — 20 Fahr. ( — 29 C). It 

 makes long journeys over the snow, burrowing down when- 

 ever it comes to an elevation that denotes the presence of a 

 log or stump, and I am inclined to believe that at this season it 



' Mam. Adir., 1884, p. 164. 



JUS iiy,Ai 



Fig. 259 — Blarina, Cos Cob, July 

 Stomach crammed with grain — com t 



