THE WATEK SHREW. 127 



on which it feeds, or to thrust its head among the densest and closest 

 herbage. Many insects and their hirvse are found in such localities, 

 and it is upon such food that the Shrew chiefly subsists. Worms are 

 also captured and eaten by the Shrew, which in many of its habits is 

 not unlike the mole. 



The bite of the Shrew is so insignificant as to make hardly any im- 

 press even on the delicate skin of the human hand. Popular prej- 

 udice, however, here steps in, and attributes to the bite of the Shrew 

 such venomous properties that in many districts of England the viper 

 is less feared than the little harmless Shrew. 



The very touch of the Shrew's foot is considered a certain herald of 

 evil, and animals or men which had been " shrew-struck " were sup- 

 posed to labor under a malady which was incurable except by a rather 

 singular remedy, which partakes somewhat of a homoeopathic j^rinciple, 

 that "similia similibus curantur." 



The curative power which alone could heal the shrew-stroke lay in 

 the branches of a shrew-ash, or an ash tree which had been imbued 

 with the shrewish nature by a very simple process. A living Shrew 

 was captured and carried to the ash tree which was intended to receive 

 the healing virtues. An auger-hole was made in the trunk, the poor 

 Shrew was introduced into the cavity, and the auger-hole closed by a 

 wooden plug. Fortunately for the wretched little prisoner, the entire 

 want of air would almost immediately cause its death. But were its 

 little life to linger for ever so long a time in the ash trunk, its incarcer- 

 ation would still have taken place, for where superstition raises its cruel 

 head humanity is banished. 



The nest of the Shrew is not made in the burrow, as might be sup- 

 posed, but is built in a suitable depression in the ground, or in a hole 

 in a bank. It is made of leaves and other similar substances, and is 

 entered through a hole at the side. In this nest are produced the 

 young Shrews, from five to seven in number, and, as may be imag- 

 ined, extremely diminutive in size. They are generally born in the 

 spring. 



The total length of the adult Shrew is not quite four inches, of which 

 the tail occupies very nearly the moiety. 



Similar to the Erd Shrew in general aspect, but easily to be distin- 

 guished from that animal by its color and other peculiarities, the 

 Water Shrew stands next on our list. 



The fur of the Water Shrew is nearly black upon the upper portions 

 of the body, instead of the reddish-brown color which tints the fur of 

 the Erd Shrew. The under parts of the body are beautifully white, 

 and the line of demarcation between the two colors is very distinctly 

 drawn. The fur is very soft and silken in texture, and, when the 

 animal is submerged under the surface of the water, possesses the use- 



