THE FAERY YEAR 



Water Shrews 



The " pig-mouse " of the cress farmer is the 

 water shrew, a natty little thing of liveliest habit 

 and conspicuous dress. Its upper coat is velvety as 

 a mole's, and quite black. The under parts are 

 white, like those of the hare, but purer. Here is 

 an animal preyed on by owls, as well as weasels 

 and other creatures of ravin, which is not in the 

 least protected by its colour resembling its environ- 

 ment ; indeed, like the blackbird, it is in contrast 

 with its surroundings. True, in these particular 

 cress beds the black of the water shrew's coat may 

 not be out of harmony with the dark peaty banks, 

 but the water shrew is the same colour in many 

 ditches, ponds, and streams where the banks are 

 not black. It is very nimble, easily and swiftly 

 exchanging, when danger threatens, earth for water 

 or water for earth. On this cress farm is a little 

 community of shrews by an osier bed. They feed 

 largely on the common freshwater shrimp, and no 

 doubt on the larvae of small water-flies and the 

 caddis. The little creature swims across the 

 narrow channel on either side of the beds, and 

 pushes its snout among the cresses, quickly dis- 

 covering and eating a large number of shrimps. 

 Surprised, it plunges from the cresses into the 

 channel, dives instantly, and, swimming under 

 water, quickly reaches one of its tunnels in the 

 bank. 



In flight under water the shrew very closely 

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