170 THE WATER-SHREW. 



except in the very heat of summer, when the fur is dry 

 and loose. The hair, which is delicately sleek and 

 glossy, is used, either along with the skir as a fur, or 

 felted as a finishing pile to fine hats. Almost the only 

 other British quadruped that is found near, and in 

 fresh waters, is, 



THE WATER-SHREW, OR WATER-RAT. 



THE WATER-SHREW (sorcx fodiens) is a small quad- 

 ruped, compared with the otter. It is a handsome 

 little creature, at least, in as far as hue and gloss of 

 covering go. On the back, it is of a fine raven black, 

 and the under part is white, but with a black line along 

 the middle. The ears are wide, and lined with a tuft 

 of pale-coloured fur, apparently to defend them from 

 the action of the water. The eyes are small, and have 

 the same sort of protection. The hair upon the tail of 

 the water-shrew is very short, and the tip is almost 

 wh'ite. Its body is about three inches long, and the 

 tail two, its weight is less than half an ounce. 



When alive, the fur of this animal is remarkable for 

 its power in resisting water, and as it plunges into the 

 streams, the drops recoil from its dark coat like pearls. 

 For so little a creature, it swims and dives very fast, 

 and shows great agility in catching the fry of small 

 fishes, young frogs, and insects ; but it also feeds upon 

 roots, and probably upon grass, as the approach to its 

 hole is kept very neatly shorn. It burrows very fast 

 in the soft banks of rivers and ponds, and as it carries 

 its galleries a long way, it is injurious to the banks of 

 the latter. In Holland, where a great portion of the 



