INSECTIVORA 99 



on tlie roadside in autumn^ and often in sncli numbers 

 that it is a matter of question liow they could have 

 come by their fate. The problem has so far not 

 been satisfactorily solved, 



Mr. Millais su^ii-gests that they migrate in August 

 and September, not to any great distance, but in 

 search of better feeding ground, after the manner of 

 the lemmings in Norway. 



The Lesser Shrew. 



8urex minutus has the distinction of being the 

 smallest British mammal. This is the shrew of 

 Ireland. Its tail and snout are proportionately longer 

 than those of the common shrew. The head and 

 body measure together 2 inches and the tail 1^ inches. 



'J'he teeth of this shrew are so small that a lens is 

 needed to detect them. 



The Water Shrew. 



The water shrew is the largest of the British 

 shrews, being 3^ inches long, taking head and body 

 together, with a tail about 2 inches in length. It is 

 usually black above, a colour which is very rare 

 amongst animals, and white beneath, but the colour 

 of the coat varies a good deal, so much, indeed, that 

 formerly there was considered to be more than one 

 species. They make burrows in the banks of streams 

 and rivers, and live on the larvse of fresh-water 

 insects, being particularly fond of caddis-fly larvse, 

 water snails, fish and frog spawn, and young fish 



