SHREWS AND MOLES. 39 



Chhuncha or Chhuchandar is a term of contempt when 

 applied to man. 



Besides India, it is found in Ceylon and Burmah. 

 Like all other animals of the same family it is nocturnal, 

 and comes out at night to hunt about houses for 

 insects, especially cockroaches which it devours greedi- 

 ly. It now and then utters, especially if alarmed, a 

 sort of sharp squeaking cry such as arrested the 

 attention of the little boy of whom mention has been 

 made before. The disagreeable odour of a musk 

 shrew is well known. On each side of its body is a 

 gland which secretes a kind of evil-smelling fluid to 

 which the odour of the animal is due. This bad 

 odour is very useful to the shrew, as it serves to protect 

 it from the attacks of such animals as live by preying 

 upon others. 



The food of the shrews consists of insects, to which 

 they are very partial ; but they appear to eat meat with 

 equal relish. Some zoologists say that they have been 

 known to attack frogs and eat scorpions. 



Tte MOLES are more perfectly fitted for an under- 

 ground life than any other known animals. The 

 fore-limbs are very broad and flat and furnished with 

 large claws so as to render them capable of burrow- 

 ing with ease. They are easily distinguished from 

 the shrews by their thick rounded bodies, enormous 

 forelimbs, and much shorter legs ; the fur is pecu- 

 liarly soft and velvety. The eyes are very small, in 

 fact reduced to a point and generally covered by 



