THE SHREW 



only devour noxious insects, but they also prey 

 largely on the young and even adults of the grain- 

 eating field mice. Shrews, like mice, are secretive 

 little creatures. In fact, they are more timid than 

 mice, for they evidently realise their inability to 

 escape when surprised at any little distance from 

 dense cover, as, unlike the mouse, they are rather 

 slow in their movements. Shrews are found wherever 

 insects are abundant, which is usually in cultivated 

 lands and fertile vegetation-covered areas. I have 

 found them in shrub-covered, rocky localities, in 

 the dense forests, out on the grass-veld, in sod 

 fences, outhouses, and in dwelling-houses. They 

 make . their lairs in the rotten interiors of fallen 

 trees, in crevices, in burrows, in dense brushwood, 

 tufts of grass, amongst the roots of trees, under 

 lumber, or any place where they may hide them- 

 selves from their enemies, and at the same time 

 secure shelter from wind and rain. I have several 

 times discovered Shrews' nests in old tins, shoes, 

 and even in glass bottles. The parents seldom 

 sought to escape by running. Crouching down, 

 they raised the head, showing the peculiar front 

 teeth. At the same time the long, sensitive snout 

 contracted, distended and moved about at a rapid 

 rate. In one nest composed of fine grass and some 

 moss, at Port Elizabeth, in the month of October, 

 I found four little pink, helpless young Shrews. In 

 another nest of fine grass in an old shoe I found 

 three little ones. 



VOL. iv 33 3 



