THE WATER-SHREW. 13 



length on the grass and waited for a quarter of an 

 hour, by which time the whole family of water-shrews 

 had returned laden to their hole, each carrying a water- 

 beetle. This was a small experience, but surely one 

 worth a quarter of an hour's silent observation. 



Mr. Dovaston, in the second volume of the " Maga- 

 zine of Natural History/' thus describes these animals : 

 "On a delicious evening far in April, 1825, a little 

 before sunset, strolling in my orchard beside a pool, 

 and looking into the clear water for inserts I expected 

 about that time to come out, I was surprised by seeing 

 what I momentarily imagined to be a Dytiscus 

 marginalis^ or some very large beetle, dart with rapid 

 motion, and suddenly disappear. Laying myself down 

 cautiously and motionless on the grass, I soon, to my 

 delight and wonder, observed it was a mouse. I 

 repeatedly marked it glide from the bank under water 

 and bury itself in the mass of leaves at the bottom ; 

 I mean the leaves that had fallen off the trees in 

 autumn, and which lay very thick in the mud. It very 

 shortly returned, and entered the bank, occasionally 

 putting its long sharp nose out of the water, and 

 paddling close to the edge. This it repeated at very 

 frequent intervals from place to place, seldom going 

 more than two yards from the side, and always return- 

 ing in about half a minute. I presume it sought and 

 obtained some insect or other food among the rubbish 

 and leaves, and retired to consume it. Sometimes it 

 would run a little on the surface, and sometimes 

 timidly and hastily come ashore, but with the greatest 

 caution, and instantly plunge in again. During the 

 whole sweet spring of that fine year I constantly 



