THE SHREW MOUSE. 169 



they frequent ox-dung, and in the winter time repair to houses, gardens, 

 and stables, where they are taken and killed. 



" If they fall into a cart-road, they die, and cannot get forth again, as 

 Marccllus, Nicandcr, and Pliny affirm. And the reason is given by Philcs, 

 for being in the same, it is so amazed, and trembleth, as if it were in bands. 

 And for this cause some of the ancients have prescribed the earth of a 

 cart-road to be laid to the biting of this mouse as a remedy thereof. 

 The}' go very slowly ; they are fraudulent, and take their prey by deceit 

 Many times they gnaw the oxes hoofs in the stable. 



" They love the rotten flesh of ravens; and therefore in France, when 

 they have killed a raven, they keep it till it stinketh, and then cast it in 

 the places where the Shrew-mice haunt, whereunto the}- gather in so 

 great a number, that you may kill them with shovels. The Egyptians, 

 upon the former opinion of holiness, do bury them when they die. And 

 thus much for the description of this beast." 



The Water Shrew, Sorcx fodicns (or Amphisorcx Linneamis), is, as 

 its name implies, found near the banks of streams. It is a good diver, 

 and its ears are admirably adapted to protect it under water, as they 

 are so constructed that the pressure of the water completely closes 

 them. 



The Etruscan Shrew, Sorex Etruscus, is the smallest of all known 

 mammals. It measures only an inch and a half in length. Its habitat is 

 Italy, but it is said to have been found in Algeria. 



The House Shrew, Sorcx araucus, is common in Central Europe, but 

 is not found in England. It frequents barns and often enters houses. 



THE AMERICAN SHREWS. 



Forster'S Shrew, Sorcx Forsteri, is a very well-known species, found 

 in all the Eastern Slates and quite common in New York. De Kay 

 describes it in the following terms : " Body slender, more elongated and 

 divided at the tip, whiskers long, fur short but fine, feet slender, with five 

 toes ; tail four-sided, with a small pencil of hair at the tip, and nearly as 

 long as the body. The color is dark-gray tipped with brown. Length 

 four inches." 



The Thick-tailed Shrew, Sorex pachyurus, is found in the North- 

 western States. Its fur is longer than that of most Shrews, and gives 

 the creature a stout appearance. The feet and claws are large, the tail 

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