KRU 



M 



317 



Thi." animal is a native of various parts of India, and Is very well known on account of th 

 extiviii.ly iNiw.Tful xvnt whi.-h .\udes from certain glands that are imai.-.l in the under 

 parts of tin- Ixxiy and on the hunk*. 



in.- odoriferous substance, which Is secreted by tin- nlxiv.- m.-niioned glands, is of a 

 mu-k\ natm-.-. and (KMsesMs the property of penetrating and adhering to every imbalance over 

 uln.'ii tli.- Musk-Kat has passed. The musky <><lur clings so pertinaciously to the objects 

 \\hii-li are impregnated with its tainting contact, that in many cases they become entirely 

 iil.-xs. Provisions oi all kinds are fi- \<>. iris -j ...\\.-i \-\ the -vil odorwMh Which th-y ai.- 

 -a i united ; and of so penetrating a nature is the musky seeut. that thu combined powers ol 

 glass and cork are unable to preserve the content* of buttl>- from its unpleasant infli 



Let but a Sondeli run over a bottle of wine, and the contained liquid will be so powerfully 

 scented with a musky savor that it will be rendered unlit for civilized palates, and must be 



BSD SBRCW.-an*r wfcvta. 



SOHDELL- 



removed from the neighborhood of other wines, lest the contaminating influence should extend 

 to them also. 



In color it is not unlike the common shrew, having a slight chestnut, or reddish tinge, 

 upon a mouse-colored ground, fading into gray on the undT parts of the body. In size, 

 however, it is murh the superior of that animal ; being nearly as large as the common brown or 

 44 Hanoverian " rat. The hair is very short, and the peculiar reddish-brown hue of the for ia 

 .-an-.- 1 liy tl,.- .lilf. . iti Hnflap "!' Hi-- ui']--r :i!i<! iin<l'-r fur. 



Dri:i\<; tli> autumnal months of the year, the country roads and by-paths are frequently 

 rendered remarkable by the presence of little mnu**- likf animal-, with long snouts and 

 peculiarly squanil tail-, that lit- dt-ad upon the ground, without mark of external injury to 

 account for the mnnn.-r <>f their de< % ease. 



There are probably many other such corpses upon the wide and grassy meadow hinds, but, 

 owinir t<> th nature of the Around, they are not so conspicuous as those upon the smoothly 

 troddi-n j>aths. The pn-n. ..... f these deceased creatures is the more remarkable, because 



tli.-rv are so many predatory animals and birds, such as cats, weasels, stoats, owls, and hawks, 

 which would !* vt-ry likely to kill such small prey, but, having slain them, would be almost 

 sure to eat them. These unsepultnred remains are the bodies of the Su i: MV M . .r - 1 of England, 

 otherwise known by the name of ERD SHREW. Another title by whi-h thi* little animal is 

 known, in some parts of England, is the Fetid Shrew ; a name which has been given to it <>i> 



