372 THE STORY OF THE SHREW. 



ears, and their long tails. The red-toothed shrews are quite unknown hi 

 Africa south of the Sahara, and they are only represented in India and the rest 

 of the Oriental region by a single variety. 



The common shrew, found abundantly in the British Islands, measures 

 just short of three inches in length, exclusive of the tail, and is usually of a 

 reddish mouse-color, paler beneath, with the tail rather shorter than the body. 

 There is, however, considerable individual variation in color, specimens being 

 sometimes found banded with white. Its food is insects, worms, snails and 

 slugs. 



Shrews are so given to- fighting that tw^O' are rarely seen together except 

 when in a fight, and if two' or more are confined together, the strongest will 

 soon kill the others. 



The strong scent of the shrew serves to protect it against many foes, but 

 it is not strong enough to disgust the owd, which bird kills and devours 

 shrews with great relish. A cat will kill a shrew but will not eat it. 



The varieties of shrews found in the United States are among the smallest 

 members of the family. They spend less time underg^'ound, but when they 

 move about on the surface they always seek the cover of fallen leaves and 

 twigs. 



The naturalist knows that however cautiously he may move his footsteps 

 put to flight many forms of life that will reappear as soon as quiet is restored ; 

 therefore he often waits and watches and stops to listen and observe. While 

 thus occupied, it sometimes happens that a slight rustling reaches his ears. 

 There is no wind, but his eyes rest upon a fallen leaf that seems toi move. 

 Presently another stirs, and perhaps a third turns completely over. Then 

 something like the shadow of an embryo- mouse appears and vanishes before 

 the eye can catch its perfect image. Anon the restless phantom flits across 

 an open space, leaving no- trace behind. But a charge of fine shot dropped with 

 quick aim upon the next leaf that moves will usually solve the mystery. The 

 author of the perplexing commotion is found tO' be a curious sharp-nosed 

 creature, no' bigger than one's little finger, and weighing hardly more than 

 half a drachm. Its ceaseless activity, and the rapidity with which it darts 

 from place to place, are truly astonishing, and rarely permit the observer a 

 correct impression of its form. Whenever a tree or a large limb falls tO' the 

 ground these shrews soon find it, examining every part with great care, and 

 if a knot-hole or crevice is detected, leading tO' a cavity within, they are 

 pretty sure to enter, carry in materials for a nest, and take formal possession. 

 Not only are these agile and restless little shrews voracious and almost insati- 



