Scraps in Natu 241 
ous combat would ensue. On younger one perceived the 
other close in its rear; it sent shrill chirp, wheeled about 
suddenly and came to close ers with the rightful resident of 
the box, to whose superior strength, however, it ultimately fell a 
prey. ‘The dead body was dragged below and deposited in the 
soft bed of the —a now, for what reason I do not know, 
began to construct a new nest. 
The voice of this animal in retreating to its harboring places, 
is almost precisely that of the ground-squirrel, being a rapidly 
uttered chip-chip-chip. Its propensity to gnaw is considerable, 
ut perhaps not so great as that of the mouse. Repeated experi- 
_ ments have convinced me, that (unless peculiar odors are an ex- 
ception) its sight and smell cannot extend me the distance 
of half an inch ; but its sense of hearing is extremely acute. 
Dr. Godman says of shrews: “'These animals rarely come out 
in the day-time, and are so small as to require very close atten- 
tion to observe their modes of living.” My captive ventured out 
of his own accord, equally in the day as in the night; and I 
never experienced any difficulty in observing its “modes of liv- 
ing.” The same author states, that though insects are their 
principal subsistence, they seem no less fond of “putrid flesh, 
and filth of various sorts.” Such a character by no means befits 
the short-tailed shrew; for the one in my possession was as 
cleanly, tidy, and choice in the quality of his food, as any little 
quadruped I ever knew; always bringing out the putrid worms 
and decaying grains from his cell, and always preferring the liv- 
ing to the dead: his habitation was as clean as possible, egestion 
being performed in a concealed corner. I can also say on behalf 
of my prisoner, that during the two spring months of his depend- 
ence upon me for subsistence, I never perceived any annoying 
smell, much less that disgusting odor with which, like the pole- 
_ at, shrews are said to stand charged. 
Could this little animal be domesticated, so as to be serviceable 
in exterminating mice from our dwellings ? 
Mustela pusilla, or Weasel.—I purchased one of half a dozen 
Weasels which were found near town in the same nest, and put 
it into a box; ina short time it coiled itself up and slept. Not 
being easily roused from its slumbers, I have repeatedly been 
able to “catch a weasel asleep.” It frequently cried, but appa- 
Vol. xuv1, No, 2.—Jan.-March, 1844, * 31 
