374 THE STORY OF THE SHREW. 



able, consuming tremendous quantities of raw meat and insects with great 

 eagerness, but they are veritable cannibals withal, and will even slay and 

 devour their own kind. 



The marsh-shrew from the Rocky Mountains, together with the swimming 

 shrew from one of the Aleutian Islands, differ from the other members in hav- 

 ing their feet provided with fringes of long hair. 



Another ^'ariety of the red-toothed family is the short-tailed shrew found 

 in the Adirondack Mountains, 



The water-shrew, although unknown in Ireland, is found all over England 

 and the south of Scotland. It likewise occurs over a large area of continental 

 Europe, from whence it extends eastwards into Asia as far as the Atlas range. 

 In the water these graceful little creatures are as much at home as water-voles 

 or beavers ; and in clear streams they may be observed during the day diving 

 or running along the bottom, and turning over the pebbles with their sharp 

 noses in search of fresh-water shrimps, which appear to constitute their favor- 

 ite food. In addition, the water-shrew devours many kinds of water insects or 

 their larvae, while it is also probable that it likewise preys on the spawn or fry 

 of minnows and other small fish. There are, moreover, several instances on 

 record where water-shrews have been found feeding on the flesh of larger 

 animals, which they have found dead. The burrows of the water-shrew are 

 made along the banks of ponds and streams. 



The largest of the shrews is plentiful in India and is known as the 

 musk-shrew, of which there are two' varieties, brown and gray. The brown 

 musk-shrew is found as a rule in woods (although it will occasionally enter 

 buildings), the gray musk-shrew generally haunts human habitations. The 

 gray musk-shrew is a common visitor toi Indian houses. During the day it 

 lies concealed in holes and drains, issuing forth at night tO' hunt over the floors 

 of rooms for cockroaches and other insects ; while thus engaged it utters from 

 time tO' time a short, sharp squeak. In respect of its insect-eating habits, this 

 musk-shrew is a benefactor tO' mankind ; but these benefits are accompanied by 

 the drawback that various articles may be so impregnated with the musky 

 secretion of the animal as tO' become utterly useless. There has, however, been 

 much exaggeration as tO' the penetrating power of this scent, the well-known 

 but absurd story that wine or beer becomes impregnated with a musky flavor 

 from the circumstance of one of these shrews having run over the outside 

 of the bottle containing such liquor, being a case in point. 



