THE WATER SHREW. 43°7 
the colour of the fur, is the fringe of stiff white hairs which edges the tail and the toes, 
and which is evidently of great use in the natatory movements of the animal. 
The Water Shrew finds its food in various ways. Sometimes it burrows in the muddy 
river banks, rooting in the soft earth with its elongated nose, and dislodging the larvee of 
certain insects that pass that stage of their existence in the mud. It also chases and 
captures various aquatic insects as they move through the water, and will not disdain to 
feed upon moths and other similar creatures which have fallen or have been blown into 
the water and then drowned. 
In all its movements, the Water Shrew is extremely graceful and active, displaying 
equal agility, whether its movements be terrestrial or aquatic. As the sphere of its vision 
does not appear to be very extended, it can easily be approached while it is engaged in its 
little gambols, and can be watched without much difficulty. 
I have repeatedly observed the proceedings of a little colony of these creatures, and 
was able to sit within a yard or two of their haunts without their cognizance of my 
person. They are most sportive little creatures, and seem to enjoy a game of play with 
thorough appreciation, chasing each other over the ground and through the water, running 
up the stems of aquatic plants, and tumbling off the leaves into the water, scrambling 
WATER SHREW.—Créssopus Fédiens 
hastily over the stones around which the stream ripples, and playing a thousand little 
pranks with the most evident enjoyment. Then they will suddenly cease their play, and 
begin to search after insects with the utmost gravity, rooting in the banks, and picking up 
stray flies, as if they never had any other business in view. 
As it is in the habit of repeatedly passing over the same ground in these mutual 
chases, it soon treads a kind of path or road upon the land, which, although very obscurely 
marked, is yet sufficiently well defined to attract the attention of any one who 1s 
conversant with the habits of these little creatures. 
3eing an excellent diver, and fond of submerging itself wholly beneath the surface, 
the Water Shrew would suffer great inconvenience were its ears to be constantly filled 
with the liquid element in which it moves ; and in order to avert such an inconvenience, 
a special provision of nature is needed. For this purpose the ears are peculiarly formed, 
so that as soon as the animal is wholly submerged, the pressure of the water acts upon 
three small valves, which fold together and effectually prevent the entrance of a single 
drop of water into the cavity of the ear. As soon as the animal rises to the surface, the 
pressure is removed, and the ears unfold like the petals of a flower, when the sun shines 
warmly on them. 
