WATER SHREW. 137 



preached. See what the redbreast looks like in the 

 winter, as he sits disconsolately on a bough, or 

 crouches about on the ground. He is hardly recog- 

 nizable for the trim, smooth- feathered bird of the 

 summer time. All his plumage is puffed out until he 

 looks a mere ball of feathers. In fact, the poor bird 

 is suffering from cold, and instinctively erects all its 

 feathers, so as to entangle as much air as possible 

 between them. 



It is evident that the " set," whether of hair or 

 feathers, has much to do with the capability of entang- 

 ling air ; and that anything which interferes with the 

 orderly arrangement of the fibres, will equally interfere 

 with the cold or water-resisting power. I think that 

 in this respect much depends on life. Take, for 

 example, a common water rat, as it comes out of the 

 water, and capture it on shore. It will be found that 

 although the exterior of the fur be wet, the skin is 

 quite dry. But, if the same animal had been shot 

 while in the water, it would have been wet to the 

 skin when taken out. 



It is to this fact that is due the fearful cruelty 

 committed by professional cat stealers. We have 

 most of us heard the shameful details of cases where 

 the delinquent has fortunately been brought to. justice, 

 and seen that the heartless miscreants always excused 

 themselves for flaying cats alive, by saying that their 

 skins were worth nothing if taken from them after 

 death. 



We can now understand why the young polar 

 bear which has been lately mentioned, was so nearly 

 drowned. The dust and dirt that had worked their 



