n8 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



often find it along the banks of wooded streams and 

 moorland becks. In certain parts of the country, 

 where these little animals tunnel much, a 

 price is set upon their " heads," and they are 

 captured in large numbers by boys. The "head," 

 however, is only nominal, for the halfpenny is 

 really paid for the tail. Accordingly barbarous 

 boys try and take the animals alive, and when they 

 succeed they cut off the tails and return the shrews 

 to the water, under a belief that the former will grow 

 again. 



The habits of this shrew are much more interesting 

 in fresh water with brightly running streams than 

 where the water is logged. It is to be seen in company 

 with the dipper and water-hen, haunting with them 

 the green mossy stones, and prying under all that are 

 not too heavy to raise. Sometimes the kingfisher 

 flashes under the overhanging boughs and fishes 

 beside it, while immediately below the water-ouzel 

 rummages among the stones. The shrews love to 

 disport upon the slabs of rock which sometimes jut 

 into the water. There they find larvae and caddis 

 bait, and occasionally pick up a silvery minnow. 

 When the sun shines they lie upon the hot stones, 

 their bright fur glistening in the light. But their 

 favourite cover is the straw and grass and leaves 

 washed up in flood-time, and now suspended on the 

 lowest boughs, almost trailing the water. Among 



