MAMMALOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY. 267 



minutive eyes, and attenuated muzzle, prolonged into a movable snout. In the 

 true or typical shrews, included in the genus Sorax, the body is rather slender, 

 nearly cylindrical, and covered with a soft glossy fur ; the ears are large, but 

 nearly concealed by the fur of the head ; the eyes are minute, but visible ; and 

 the snout is elongated, flexible, and sensitive; the tail is variable in length, but 

 generally is long ; series of glands are placed along the flanks which secrete a 

 fluid of disagreeable odor, in consec[uence of which they are seldom destroyed 

 and eaten by the Carnivora. 



The animals of this family are small, some of them the most diminutive of 

 mammals. Their habits are generally nocturnal, and none of one species hiber- 

 nate, I believe, as individuals are often seen in winter busily engaged in search- 

 ing for insects in their various forms, in and beneath piles of stones and rubbish. 

 The shrews inhabit the woods, fields, and gardens, and being possessed of vora- 

 cious appetites they are continually active in destroying numerous noxious insects, 

 of which their food almost entirely consists ; consequently they are all eminently 

 beneficial to agriculture, and are certainly worthy the protection of the farmer. 



There are also in this country, besides- the genus Sorcx or true shrews in- 

 cluded in the Soricidce, other genera, of which Blarina is the most important. 

 In this genus are placed the mole-shrews or short-tailed shrews. These may 

 be recognized by their stout body, short tail, and the other features of the genus 

 Sorex. 



The fomily Talpidce. (or moles) is represented in this country by several 

 species, in all of which the body is short and strong, the snout flexible and very 

 sensitive, and the head is long and tapering. The external ear is wanting, and 

 the eye is so small as to be hardly visible, or is completely covered with the 

 skin of the head. The limbs are short and strong, (the forward ones which are 

 provided with strong claws for digging,) exceedingly so. These peculiarities 

 of form are all adapted to the subterranean habits of these animals. Their food 

 consists of insects and worms ; these, which they destroy in great quantities, 

 are all, or nearly so, captured beneath the surf ice of the ground. They are 

 almost constantly employed in searching for food in consequence of their vora- 

 cious appetites, and their labors are valuable in destroying these insects. 



In reviewing the habits of the different animals that subsist entirely upon 

 insects, we find them to be generally nocturnal in character. This seems to be 

 a wise provision of natm-e, whereby the birds (generally diurnal in habits) which 

 destroy great numbers of insects, and even in a great many species, subsist 

 entirely upon them, are continually assisted in keeping reduced this formidable 

 and destructive element. Another interesting and valuable fact is, that these 

 animals, to make their work the more sure, hunt in different circles : the Ves~ 

 pcrtiUonidcB destroying great numbers of insects in the air; the Soricidce on 

 the surface of the earth, and the TaJpidce beneath the surface. In studying 

 these beautiful laws, so nicely calculated for so desirable an end, we admire and 

 ■wonder. Appreciating them, and noting their efficacy, we learn to respect and 

 even love the instruments by which they are executed. 



CARNIVORA. 



This great order, generally diffused over the entire globe, is represented in 

 this country by the following families: Felidts, (the cats;) Canidce, (the dogs;) 

 F»TW(?<:g, (the civet cats;) Mastelidce, (the weasels, skunks, &c.;) a.nd. Ursida, 

 (bears.) 



The external characteristics of the FelidcB are — a rounded head, light, elastic, 

 muscular body, strong limbs and sharp retractile claws on all the toes, which are 

 five in number on the anterior feet, and four on the posterior. In this famdy 

 are included our panthers, lynxes, and wildcats. The habits of these animals 

 are both nocturnal and diurnal, but generally the former. In capturing their 



