THE SHREW 



and if one is killed the other eats a portion of 

 the body. In captivity it is necessary to keep them 

 apart, for if several are kept together it v^ill be 

 truly a case of the survival of the fittest, as event- 

 ually there v^ill be but one survivor, he having 

 earned the right to live by reason of his superior 

 physical strength, for '^ Might is Right " in the 

 lov^er animal v^orld. 



It is a v^ise provision of Nature to have evolved 

 the instinct in the flesh- and insect-eating animals 

 to devour one another v^hen hard pressed by hunger ; 

 or to fight to the death v^hen one encroaches on 

 another's preserves. If this v^ere otherv^ise, the 

 forms of life on w^hich they prey would be annihi- 

 lated. The Shrews are an instance in point, for 

 if through an undue increase in their numbers, or 

 from any other cause, insect life becomes scarce, 

 they must of necessity eat one another or die of 

 starvation. In this way the most virile of their 

 race survives, and by reason of the diminution of 

 their numbers, insect life once again increases and 

 the balance is restored. 



Shrews hunt for their food at all times both day 

 and night, and in this respect their habits vary 

 according to their environment. If insect life is 

 more abundant by day, and enemies not too numer- 

 ous, Shrews may be seen abroad in the daylight. 

 If, on the other hand, enemies harass them by day 

 and food is easier to obtain by night, then the Shrew 

 hides away during the daytime and is active by night. 



35 



