WATER-SHREWS KILLING YOUNG FISH. 95 



most deadly foes to the newly-hatched salmon and 

 trout, possibly the mischief done by the shrews may 

 be to some extent counterbalanced by the good they 

 do in killing these enemies of the young fish. The 

 best way of catching the water- shrew is by placing 

 a circular wire mouse-trap, baited with a fish or 

 young frog close to the runs they make by the water's 

 edge. Generally, a small community of ten or 

 twelve inhabit the same pool or rivulet, and it is a 

 most interesting sight to watch them gambolling 

 with each other or searching for food. Though 

 generally living on peaceable terms, the males fight 

 desperately during the spring, generally continuing 

 the contest till one or other of the combatants is 

 killed. I should scarcely think that the shrews 

 could destroy all the young trout lost by your 

 correspondent in a single night, and agree with Mr. 

 Buck land in attributing at least part of the damage 

 to the rats. Digestion goes on very rapidly in all 

 the insectivora, and the delicate bones of young fry 

 would be more rapidly absorbed than the harder 

 wing cases of insects. I have also dissected both 

 species of water-shrew myself, with remains of fish 

 in the stomach and intestines, and will send the 

 next culprit I detect in the act of fish-eating to Mr. 

 Buckland for examination. 



