WATER SHRfcW. 139 



of being extended beyond a certain distance. Let the 

 observer only sit quiet, without moving, and the 

 Water shrews will play about within reach of a stick, 

 entirely unconscious of man's proximity. But a 

 movement which produces the least sound at once 

 gives the alarm, and sends the little animals off to 

 their hiding-places. 



There is yet another provision of nature which 

 ought to be noticed. In common with many other 

 water trespassers, it has but very small ears. Still, as 

 it is much given to diving and the water might force 

 its way into the auditory passages the entrance to 

 the ear is guarded by a valve composed of three little 

 flaps, which are forced together by the pressure of 

 the superincumbent water, and so keep the interior of 

 the ear entirely dry. 



There is another British Water shrew, which is 

 called the oared shrew, because the stiff, hairy fringe 

 upon the feet is very hard and conspicuous, looking, 

 while the animal is swimming, like the blade of an 

 oar. It is sometimes called the black shrew, because, 

 although the upper part of the body is of the same 

 velvety black in both animals, the oared shrew is 

 much darker beneath than the common Water shrew. 

 In both species, the tail is flattened from the tip to 

 about one-third of its length, so that it probably serves 

 the purpose of a rudder. 



