SWIMMING-SHREW WEB-FOOTED SHREW 335 



THE SWIMMING-SHREWS 

 Genus Chimarrogale 



Although the name swimming-shrews would be equally applicable to the water- 

 shrews (Crossopus), and the latter name to the members of the present genus, yet it 

 is convenient to take the two terms with the signification here given. The swim- 

 ming-shrews, of which one species (Chimarrogale himalayica) is found in the 

 Himalayas and Mount Kiua Balu in Borneo, and the other (C. platycephalus] in 

 Japan, closely resemble the water-shrews in general appearance, but are distin- 

 guished by the teeth being entirely white, and likewise by being twenty-eight, 

 instead of thirty in number. These shrews have a small external ear-conch ; broad 

 scaly feet, with a fringe of coarse white hairs on their margins, and on the sides of 

 each toe ; and the long tail is also fringed with similar hairs. The individual toes 

 are, however, not connected by webs. 



The Himalayan swimming-shrew has a slaty-gray fur above, with the tips of 

 the hairs blackish brown. A female measured a little over four and one-half inches 

 in length, exclusive of the tail, the length of the latter being three inches ; but it is 

 probable that other individuals are considerably larger. This shrew inhabits the 

 southwestern portions of the Himalayan range, at elevations from three thousand 

 to five thousand feet above the sea level ; and it is also found in the hills of North 

 Burma. It inhabits the banks of streams, and, doubtless, swims quite as well as the 

 European water-shrew. Dr. Anderson has observed it plunging into the water, and 

 running over the stones on the bed of a stream. Like its European cousin, it is 

 said to feed on aquatic insects and their larvae, as well as on tadpoles, and the 

 smaller fish and their fry. The assumption of aquatic habits by members of both 

 the red-toothed and white-toothed sections of the shrews is an interesting example 

 of how animals belonging to different groups may acquire almost exactly similar 

 external characteristics, as being essential to their particular mode of life. 



THE WEB-FOOTED SHREW 

 Genus Nectogale 



A still further modification for the purposes of an aquatic life is exhibited by 

 the web-footed water-shrew (Nectogale elegans) of Tibet, of which a group is shown 

 in our colored plate. In these shrews not only are the feet and tail fringed with 

 hairs, but the external conchs of the ears are wanting, and the toes are completely 

 joined by webs, while the soles of the feet are furnished with large disc-like pads. 

 The web-footed shrew has a tail of four inches in length, while the length of the 

 head and body is but just over three and one-half inches. The fur, which is ex- 

 tremely dense and soft and evidently adapted to withstand the icy cold of the Ti- 

 betan rivers, is of a rich dark brown color above with the longer hairs of a glistening 

 white, while the chin and throat are whitish, and the belly light brown 



