MUSK SHREWS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



those troublesome pests the mice. In gardens they 

 are also highly useful, for they devour vegetation- 

 eating caterpillars, beetles, slugs and snails. 



In Natal I surprised Shrews on several occasions 

 during the daytime climbing up the stalks of wheat, 

 grass, or other plants, in search of insects, or to get 

 into the direct rays of the sun. During their 

 progress they gripped the stem with their toes and 

 wound the tail round it. Seizing one by the neck 

 I endeavoured to remove it from a stem, but it 

 clung so tightly with its teeth, limbs and tail that 

 I could not remove it without employing such force 

 as would have seriously injured it. 



The cry of the Shrew is a shrill, sighing squeak. 



THE MUSK SHREWS OF 

 SOUTH AFRICA 



THERE are a large number of species of Shrews in 

 South Africa. Shrews are divided into two groups, 

 on account of the front or incisor teeth being 

 reddish in some, and white in others. 



The Shrews with white teeth are known as Musk 

 Shrews, because of a gland on either side of the 

 body which secretes a strong, musky-smelling fluid. 

 These Musk Shrews occur in Africa, Europe and 

 Asia, but none exist in Britain. 



In South Africa there are two races, which, in 

 consequence of slight differences in their dentition, 

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