48 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



suffers quickly from drought. On account of its timidity 

 it is very rarely seen, but there is no doubt it is fairly 

 common in Shropshire, as specimens have been taken in 

 several widely-separated localities, as well as close to 

 Shrewsbury. One of the best accounts of the habits of 

 the Water Shrew was written by a Shropshire man the 

 late J. F. M. Dovaston, of West Felton from observa- 

 tions made by him in 1825 on a colony he found close to 

 his house. It was published in " London's Magazine of 

 Natural History," Vol. n., p. 219, 1829. The fur is 

 fine and soft like that of the Mole, of a sooty-black 

 above and pure white beneath, and the transition from 

 black to white is abrupt the one not shading off into 

 the other. Eyton had an albino taken near Shrewsbury. 

 The tail and feet are fringed with stiff white bristles. 

 The teeth are not nearly so red as in the common Shrew. 

 Total length of the male, over 6 inches ; but the female 

 is nearly an inch shorter. The Water Shrew is eaten by 

 Owls, Pike, and Weasels, and Mr. F. G. Aflalo says the 

 last can easily overtake it in the water ! 

 WILD CAT. The late Col. James Freme, of Wrentnall 

 Ftlis catus. House, Pulverbatch, had a stuffed 



Wild Cat, said to have been shot on 

 Broomhill, near that place, though the date is unknown. 

 There have also been several reports of the occurrence 

 of the animal in Shropshire, though, hitherto all 

 attempts have failed to elicit any indubitable evidence of 

 the fact, most of those reported having turned out to be 

 either domestic Cats that had run wild, or else Marten- 

 Cats ( = Pine Marten), that were often known locally by the 

 name of Wild Cats. There is, however, little doubt that the 

 animal did exist in Shropshire in former days, as it was 



