Insectivorous Land Mammals 



of the tail have small wiry hairs, that assist the animal 

 greatly in its aquatic movements. The usual colour is 

 brownish-black over the back, and white beneath, but, 

 like the other Shrews, there is a great diversity in 

 shadings. Water Shrews do not appear to be very 

 particular as to the site they select for a home. A 

 very ordinary place is about the waterway they fre- 

 quent, but sometimes they will rear their little ones 

 quite apart from the stream or pond side. If by the 

 water-edge they generally have rather lengthy burrows, 

 but a cavity in a stone wall will suffice for the Water 

 Shrew's family of five or six youngsters. Like the 

 other Shrews, the water species seems to be somewhat 

 nomadic, as it is no unusual sight to see a specimen far 

 removed from a damp meadow or a sheet of water. 



Its ball-like form and spiny coating go to indicate 

 the Hedgehog wherever seen. When on the move 

 this animal looks very pig-like, especially about the 

 head ; its neck and tail are short ; its muzzle is rather 

 pointed. Its spines, however, are its truly distinctive 

 feature. 



The animal has the faculty when assailed of tucking 

 in its head and legs, and presenting externally a spiny 

 ball. These spines are about an inch in length when 

 the animal is full grown. In the young they are much 

 shorter during the first year, and during this time the 

 animal is unable to roll itself into the defensive attitude 

 of the adult. When the spines become white, with a 



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