90 ON THE HABITS OF THE WATER-SHREW. 



shaped like an ordinary arched dormouse-cage, but 

 considerably larger than those used, being twelve 

 inches in height by eighteen in length ; a zinc tank 

 was also adapted to hook on to the doorway, so that 

 they might enjoy the comfort of a bath. When 

 first introduced into their new dwelling, the shrews 

 evinced no symptoms of fear, appearing quite at 

 home, and feeding freely on worms, raw meat, and 

 insects. A few days after I procured them I placed 

 three or four minnows in the bath attached to the 

 main part of 'the cage. Directly the shrews caught 

 sight of the fish, they both plunged instantly into 

 the water, and quickly reappeared, each having 

 secured a victim, which they proceeded to discuss 

 with great apparent gusto, having first killed it by 

 a bite through the head. T remarked that while 

 feeding they held the fish firmly between their fore 

 paws, in the same manner as the otter, and, com- 

 mencing at the head, ate gradually downwards, by a 

 succession of sharp snapping bites. Their appetites 

 were very good, as they frequently consumed two 

 or three minnows each in one day a very tolerable 

 amount, considering their size. When running 

 about their cage, these shrews often uttered a shrill 

 sibilant chirip, resembling the note of the grass- 

 hopper-lark. They would also play in the water, 

 half rearing up and striking with their fore paws 

 or rolling over arid over each other on the surface. 



