NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



This little animal has tiny eyes, but his powers 

 of smell are exceedingly keen, and it is chiefly 

 by means of this sense he finds his food. Out 

 on the open veld the Shrew is cautious in his 

 movements by day, lest a hawk should spy him out 

 and drop down upon him before he can gain cover. 

 Hawks and Fiskal Shrikes hunt him by day, and 

 owls by night. Snakes also levy a heavy toll on 

 his tribe. 



The little Shrew is not altogether defenceless. 

 He is provided with a gland which secretes a fluid 

 giving off an unpleasant musky odour. When 

 attacked by an enemy, the Shrew excretes some of 

 this musky-smelling fluid, which often has the effect 

 of causing his would-be slayer to leave him alone. 



When in Natal, my domestic cats frequently 

 brought dead Shrews into the dwelling, but they 

 never ate them. 



This musky secretion in the Shrew is not only 

 a negative means of defence against certain other 

 creatures which would otherwise devour them ; but 

 it is a means by which the sexes find each other, 

 or by which a male tracks a rival who happens to 

 intrude on his preserves. Shrews are often found 

 in dwellings and outhouses, attracted by the cock- 

 roaches, crickets and other insects which are so 

 commonly found in and about houses. When 

 Shrews take up their abode in a house they should 

 not be molested, for they are exceedingly useful to 

 the housewife in her war against cockroaches, and 



