CLASS MAMMALIA. 39 



There is, near Colchester, a family of mole-catchers, the 

 greatest masters of their art whom I have ever known. They 

 will, at any time, produce living specimens at a few hours' 

 notice. They bear the appropriate surname of " Watchem," 

 originally no doubt, a nick-name given them in consequence 

 of their trade. Of late years, the family have altered the 

 spelling to Watsham. I have purchased of one mole-catcher 

 (who works in company with his brother) as many as fifteen 

 hundred fresh skins in a season, from which fact the enormous 

 scale on which moles are destroyed by an able man may be 

 surmised. 



Family SORICID^, Linn. 



Genus SOREX (Linn.), Wagl. 



Sorex vulgaris, Linn. COMMON SHREW. 



This animal occurs commonly in all parts of the county, 

 although it is more frequently heard than seen. Like all the 

 rest of the family, it is highly pugnacious, and two rarely 

 meet without engaging in a fight. Hedge and coppice, 

 in consequence, frequently resound with their faint but 

 shrill war-shrieks. In colour, it varies very much, two 

 specimens hardly ever occurring of exactly the same shade. 



Sorex minutus, Linn. LESSER SHREW, 



I find Sorex vulgaris and Sorex minutus equally common, 

 either as captured specimens or lying dead on the paths in 

 autumn. 



There can be little doubt of the specific distinctness of 

 this from the last. The most obvious character by which to 

 distinguish them is the comparative length of tail. The 

 colour of the tips of the teeth is not so important a point, as 

 it varies much with age. The hair on the lower portion of 

 Sorex minutus will, I think, generally be found to be of a 

 clearer white than is the case with the other species. 



