BRITISH MAMMALS 



provision for protecting the creature against its enemies, 

 of which the Kestrel, Owl and Weasel are noteworthy 

 representatives. 



The sharp red-tipped teeth are capable of inflicting a 

 nip on the hand, or finger, but a writer in 1607 was quite 

 in error when he accused this harmless mite of " feigning 

 itself gentle and tame, but, being touched, it biteth 

 deeply and poisoneth deadly ! " He proceeds to say 

 that " it bareth a cruel mind, desiring to hurt anything, 

 neither is there any creature that it loveth, or it loveth 

 him, because it is feared of all." 



Superstition was not only rife in the early part of the 

 seventeenth century, when the author quoted was so 

 curiously misinformed of the ways and mind of the 

 Shrew, for we find to-day that old-time folklore is still 

 existent, and many animal superstitions die hard. 



We have evidence from a Fettes College schoolboy 

 that the Shrew exhibits cannibalistic tendencies, as one 

 he kept in captivity killed and partly devoured a frog, 

 several short-tailed field voles, and even one of its own 

 species. When one remembers the smallness of this 

 animal, its minute teeth, and its tender mouth, this 

 achievement is remarkable to notice, and goes to prove 

 how many points of interest still remain unrecorded of 

 creatures with which we are brought into contact. We 

 have since had this cannibalism confirmed by an ex- 

 perienced mammalogist, so that there is Uttle doubt as 

 to the authenticity of the incident above related. 



The Common Shrew attains a length of about three 

 42 



