WATER SHREW. 27 



sensitive snout appears to be more useful than its eyes in 

 hunting. As the result of his experiments, Adams is of opinion 

 that the sight of Shrews is not much if at all better than 

 that of the Mole. Yet it must hunt incessantly for, owing to 

 its rapid digestion, frequent meals are a necessity. It is so 

 delicately organised that it has been found that detention in a 

 trap for only a few minutes is fatal to it ; and captured speci- 

 mens that have been carried in the hand for a few hundred 

 yards have died shortly after. 



It is an excellent climber, and sometimes enters the upper 

 windows of houses. It is more nocturnal in its habits than the 

 Common Shrew ; but is subject to the same autumnal mor- 

 tality. It does not appear to construct burrows, but utilises 

 those of Mice. Its nests have been found in various situations, 

 such as a clump of rushes, a hollow tree stump or a hollow in 

 the ground roofed by a stone ; and they have been of different 

 materials according with the local conditions, moss, dry grass, 

 fine rush shreds and wood chips variously combined and 

 interwoven to form a hollow ball. 



There are probably two litters of from two to eight young, 

 born between May and September. 



Water Shrew (Neomysfodiens, Schreber). 



The Water Shrew is our largest species, the length of head 

 and body combined varying from three to three and three- 

 quarter inches, the body of bulkier build than that of the 

 Common Shrew, and the tail longer than the body. Its upper 

 parts are dark coloured from slaty black to dark brown and 

 the light ashy grey or dirty white of the underparts appear pure 

 white by contrast. The snout is shorter and broader than that 

 of the Common Shrew ; the small eyes are blue, and the ears, 

 which are entirely concealed, bear a tuft of white hairs. The 

 brown feet are broader and the digits are bordered with stiff 



