276 Mr. Montagu's Observations 



Water Shrew. 



Sorex fodiens. Gmel. Syst. p. 113. 7- Shaw Zool. i. p. 534. t. 1 18. 



Sorex bicolor. Nat. Miscel. t. 55. 



Water Shrew. Pennant Qitadr. p. 308. No. 236. Br. Zool. i. 

 j>.125. t. 11. No. 33. 



In addition to what has been said of this rare animal by the 

 very respectable authors referred to, we beg leave to add, that it 

 is an inhabitant of Devonshire, as Mr. N. Luscomb of Kings- 

 bridge picked up a recently killed specimen in that neighbour- 

 hood, and which is now in our possession. This, which is a male, 

 weighed three drams and a half: it differs a little from those gene- 

 rally described, as the throat and breast are pale ferruginous. 



It was found about the time of the year that the annual morta- 

 lity befalls the common Shrew, Sorex araneus ; and, contrary to the 

 usually supposed habits of which its name is indicative, was remote 

 from water, upon one of the highest and most arid situations in 

 the country, on a rocky bank. Whether it had been brought to 

 that spot by an owl, or any other bird of prey, is not to be deter- 

 mined ; but is not likely, as it had no marks of violence; nor is 

 it usual for predaceous birds to carry their prey to so great a di- 

 stance as this was found from a place suitable to a supposed am- 

 phibious animal : it is more probable that it sometimes rambles 

 from its more usual haunts. 



Cirl Bunting. 

 Emberiza Cirlus. Gmel. Syst. p. 879- Ind. Orn. i. p. 401. 10. 

 Cirl Bunting. Lath. Syn. hi. p. 190. 

 Bunting, Cirl. Orn. Diction. 



Since we made public the discovery of the Cirl as indigenous to 

 the west of England, opportunity has thrown in our way the 



means 



