SHREWS, MOLES AND BATS 393 



stream turning over the pebbles with its long snout in search of 

 fresh-water shrimps, of which it is particularly fond. 



When under water the Shrew becomes covered with quantities 

 of minute air-bubbles, which are entangled in the short hairs of 

 its velvet coat, giving it a glistening silvery skin ; and on emerging 

 from the water its fur is perfectly dry. It makes its home in the 

 banks of streams, in burrows which it excavates for itself, and if 

 it is disturbed will at once plunge into the water. 



All three British species have red-stained teeth, but those of 

 the Water Shrew are not so highly coloured. 



Other true Shrews are the Short-Tailed Shrews (Blarina) 

 of North and Central America; the Browning Shrews (Anurosorex) 

 of Assam and North- Western China ; the Swimming Shrews 

 (Chimarrogale), of which species are found in Japan, Borneo, Mount 

 Kina Bahi and the south-western part of the Himalayan range ; 

 the Musk Shrews (Crocidura), which range over Central and 

 Southern Europe, Asia and Africa; and the Web-Footed Shrew 

 (Nectgale) of North- Western China. 



The Elephant or Jumping Shrews are not true Shrews, but 

 belong to quite a different family of the Insectivora the Macrosce- 

 lidcB. They are Shrew-like animals with the hind legs longer than 

 the front ones, reminding one of miniature kangaroos, and the long 

 snout is very flexible and can be bent in the manner of an elephant's 

 trunk. These strange little creatures inhabit South Africa; they 

 live among the bushes and grasses, and are nocturnal in their 

 habits, coming out at dusk to hunt for insects. There are three 

 genera, which differ in the comparative length of the hind legs. 



The Hedgehogs and Rat Shrews are included in the family 

 ErinaceidcB. The Common Hedgehog (Erinaceus europczus) ranges 

 through the whole of Europe, temperate Asia, and parts of Africa. 

 In England it is well known, and in different parts of the country 

 is called a "Furze-Pig/ 1 "Hedge-Pig," and an "Urchin." The 

 Hedgehog's chief characteristic is the thick coat of short, stiff 

 spines which clothes its back and sides. Its legs are exceedingly 

 short, and the forefeet are armed with very sharp claws ; the neck 

 is so short that the animal appears to have none; the snout is 

 pig-like, and the eyes are small and beady. 



Although its movements appear slow and deliberate the Hedge- 

 hog*is able to get over thejgroundjiairly rapidly, and at the least 



