126 THE MUSK EAT AND THE SHREW MOUSE. 



parel, or used as a light and delicate coverlet. The fur, or " felt," is 

 best and most glossy if the animal is taken in the winter. 



Passing in a regular gradation from the moles to the shrews and 

 hedgehogs, we pause for a while at the powerfully-scented animal that 

 is called, by virtue of its perfumed person, the Musk Eat of India, and 

 is also known by the titles of Mondjourou and Sondeli. 



This animal is a native of various parts of India, and is very well 

 known on account of the extremely powerful scent which exudes from 

 certain glands that are situated in the under parts of the body and on 

 the flanks. 



The odoriferous substance which is secreted by the above-mentioned 

 glands is of a musky nature, and possesses the property of penetrating 

 and adhering to every substance over which the Musk Rat has passed. 

 The musky odor clings so pertinaciously to the objects which are im- 

 pregnated with its tainting contact that in many cases they become 

 entirely useless. Provisions of all kinds are frequently spoiled by the 

 evil odor with which they are saturated ; and of so penetrating a na- 

 ture is the musky scent that the combined powers of glass and cork 

 are unable to preserve the contents of bottles from its unpleasant in- 

 fluence. Let a Sondeli but run over a bottle of wine, and the con- 

 tained liquid will be so powerfully scented with a musky savor that 

 it will be rendered unfit for civilized palates, and must be 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 of England, having a 

 slight chestnut or reddish tinge, upon a mouse-colored ground, fading 

 into gray on the under parts of the body. In size, however, it is much 

 the superior of that animal, being nearly as large as the common brown 

 or " Hanoverian " rat. The hair is very short, and the peculiar red- 

 dish-brown hue of the fur is caused by the diflTerent tintings of the 

 upper and under fur. 



During the autumnal months of the year, the country roads and by- 

 paths are frequently rendered remarkable by the presence of little 

 mouse-like animals, with long snouts, that lie dead upon the ground, 

 without mark of external injury to account for the manner of their 

 decease. 



These are the bodies of the Shrew Mouse of England, otherwise 

 known by the name of Erd Shrew. 



The head of the Shrew is rather long, and its apparent length is in- 

 creased by the long and flexible nose which gives so peculiar an aspect 

 to the animal, and serves to distinguish it at a glance from the com- 

 mon mouse, which it so nearly resembles in general shape and color. 

 The object of this elongated nose is supposed to be for the purpose of 

 enabling the animal to root in the ground after the various creatures 



