32 THE MALES PUGNACIOUS. 



from the odium which has, during so many ages, 

 been attached to it, I am obliged to confess that 

 it is a most pugnacious animal, and this pugnacity 

 is the cause of the death of those we meet with in 

 our walks, during the months of April and May. 

 At this season of the year the males fight together, 

 and I have examined several of those I have found 

 dead. They were all males. I sent some also, to 

 Mr. Gulliver of the Royal Horse Guards, Blue, 

 whose researches into Natural History have been 

 equally curious and indefatigable, and he disco- 

 vered several livid spots about the neck and shoul- 

 ders. And from other appearances, it would seem 

 that the animals died from injuries received when 

 contending for the females. This decisive fact 

 will be sufficient to controvert the various opi- 

 nions, which have been brought forward, as to 

 the frequent appearance of the dead shrew. 



It may be mentioned that this species is now 

 ascertained not to be the Sorex araneus of Lin- 

 naeus, but the Sorex tetragonurus* of Continental 

 authors. 



The Hedge-hog is another of those persecuted 

 animals, which the superstitions of the vulgar and 

 ignorant have denounced as injurious to man. 

 These little inoffensive and patient animals are, 

 therefore, killed without remorse, and nailed to 



* This mouse in Suffolk is called the rennie ; the name of shrew 

 is not at all known to the peasantry. 



