239 
Scraps in Nat 
e it with avidity, some- 
2 worm by pressing it down 
ion, he became in a few days 
d when I threw in additional 
of its violent contortions the s 
times confining the motions o 
with its fore feet. By prope 
unconcerned at my pre 
blocks of wood, &e. he 
it at the esi If I held fot to the worm, he would tik at 
the bthes and jerk at it, till I let go, or the worm was lace- 
yy his efforts. At such times I have often raised him into 
the air * means of the worm. Whena number of worms were 
thipwa i in together, I never knew him to take one from the mass, 
unless he could seize an end which projected from the heap. 
Flesh of all kinds, fresh fish, coleopterous as well as other insects, 
slugs, millepeds, corn, oats, and every kind of grain which was 
tried, appeared to be acceptable food. The corcle of the atau 
of maize was always eaten out, as it is by rats and mice. 
When this little quadruped was satiated with food, it never 
ceased to store away the surplus provisions it might red supplied 
with, till its granaries and other repositories were filled. I say 
granaries and other repositories, for on carefully opening into his 
Various recesses, I ascertained that he had separate storehouses: 
one for corn, which was neatly packed away, grain upon grain, 
flatwise ; another for his oats; and a third for worms and insects. 
One day I discovered that he had brought out a number of grains 
of corn which had sprouted; and the granary having been damp- 
ened by water, accidentally spilled in the box, I afterward found 
the shrew had garbled his grain and conveyed the sound corn to 
a drier repository. When water was put into the box, he wet 
his tongue two or three times and went away; but when worms 
Were dropped into the cup, he returned, waded about in the water, 
' Shatched up his victim, maimed it, stored it away, and returned 
tepeatedly for more, till all were secured. 
By gentle attentions, I had by this time so far subdued his 
timidity, and instrnated: him in my language, that by night or by 
day, and at all times, whether in his hiding places i in the box, or 
running at large in the room, or safely ensconced in secret and 
inaccessible fissures, he was ready to come at my call, and re- 
ceive from my hand his accustomed meal. It was curious to ob- 
i 
