8o LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



than the head and body, with a thick covering of hairs. General 

 colour brown above, and white on the under-parts. Length 

 of head and body about 2 inches ; of tail, i y$ inch.* 



Distribution. Although far less abundant in England than 

 the common Shrew, the Lesser Shrew has a wider distribution in 

 the British Islands, being found not only in Ireland, but like- 

 wise in the Hebrides, in both of which localities it is the sole 

 representative of the genus. Elsewhere it extends through 

 Europe and Northern Asia as far eastward as the island of 

 Saghalin, although unknown in North America. In the north 

 of England it appears to be even more uncommon than in the 

 south. 



This Shrew is the smallest British Mammal, and indeed, with 

 the exception of another member of the same genus, the smallest 

 Mammal in Europe. In habits it appears to agree in all re- 

 spects with its larger relative. 



THE WATER-SHREWS. GENUS CROSSOPUS. 

 Crossopus, Wagler, Isis 1832 p. 275. 



Teeth thirty in number, with their summits stained brownish- 

 red. Ears small, but not truncated ; tail with a fringe of long 

 hairs on its lower surface, and the feet also fringed. Habits 

 aquatic. 



The genus is represented solely by the under-mentioned 

 species. 



THE WATER-SHREW. CROSSOPUS FODIENS. 



Sorex /adieus, Pallas, in Schreber's Saugethiere, vol. iii. p. 5 7 1 

 (1778) ; Bell, British Quadrupeds p. 115 (1837). 



Sorex remifer, Geoffr. Ann. Mus. vol. xvii. p. 182 (1811); 

 Bell, British Quadrupeds p. 119 (1837). 



Sorex daubentonii, Geoffroy, loc. cit. 



* Mr. De Winton says that the best distinctive character for recognising 

 the species is the extremely small size of the teeth, wh'ch require a lens to 

 detect them. 



