CROSSOPUS. QI 
DescriPTion.—Fur dark brown above, paler beneath ; rusty brown 
on the lower part of throat and middle of belly, according to Jerdon ; 
slate coloured back with scattered long hairs, which are longer and 
white-tipped on the sides and rump, according to Blyth’s memoir ; ears 
very small, hairy, concealed ; tail long, slender, fringed with stiff whitish 
hair beneath ; whiskers long and brown. 
SizE.—Head and body, 5 to 6 inches ; tail about 35 inches ; hind foot, 
2 to +4 inch, 
Jerdon procured this water-shrew at Darjeeling in the Little Rungeet 
river; it is said to live on small fish, tadpoles, water insects, &c. The 
movements of the English water-shrew, when swimming, are very 
agile. It propels itself by alternate strokes of its hind feet, but with an 
undulating motion, its sides being in a manner extended, and body 
flattened, showing a narrow white border on each side; then the fur 
collects a mass of tiny air bubbles which make the submerged portion 
glow like silver. It prefers clear still water, but at the same time will 
make its way up running streams and ditches, and occasionally wanders 
away into fields, and has been found in houses and barns. 
Its food is principally aquatic insects, worms, mollusca, and fresh- 
water crustacea. In Bell’s ‘ British Quadrupeds’ its mode of poking 
about amongst stones in search of fresh-water shrimps (Gammarus pulex) 
is well described. Mr. F. Buckland states that he once dissected a 
water-shrew and found the intestines to contain a dark fluid pulpy 
matter, which, on being examined by a microscope, proved to consist 
entirely of the horny cases and legs of minute water insects. Continental © 
writers declare that it will attack any small animal that comes in its way, 
giving it quite a ferocious character, and it is said to destroy fish spawn. 
I can hardly believe in its destroying large fish by eating out their brain 
and eyes. Brehm, who gives it credit for this, must have been mistaken. 
I have also read of its attacking a rat in a trap which was dead, and was 
discovered devouring it, having succeeded in making a small hole through 
the skin. 
In England this animal breeds in May. The young are from five to 
seven in number, and are brought forth in a small chamber in the bank, 
which is constructed with several openings, one of which is usually under 
the level of the water. 
Dr. Anderson has very fully described the Himalayan species 
under the name of Chimarrogale Himalaica. He caught a specimen in a 
mountain stream at Ponsee in the Kakhyen hills, 3500 feet above the 
sea level, and observed it running over the stones in the bed of the 
stream and plunging freely into the water hunting for insects. 
