THE WATEK-SHREW. 21? 



colour and more slender form, we doubted not was his 

 mate, and we were fearful, by our intrusion, of giving 

 offence to either. 



" He swims very rapidly; and though he appears to dart, 

 his very nimble wriggle is clearly discernible. He is never 

 seen till sunset ; but I saw him every evening I watched, 

 with the most perfect facility. They are easily discovered 

 about the going down of the sun, on still evenings, by the 

 undulating semicircles quickly receding from the bank of 

 the pool, when they are dabbling at the side. I believe 

 this to be the animal said to be so long lost in England, 

 the water-shrew (Sorex fodiens of Pennant) .... 



" I have said he only appears at evening, and such 

 are his habits. Once, at broad and bright noon, while 

 leaning on a tree, gazing on the sun-sparkles passing 

 (like fairy lights) in numberless and continual succession 

 under the gentlest breath of air, I was aware of my little 

 friend running nimbly on the surface among them. My 

 rapture caused me to start with delight, on which he 

 vanished to .security, within his rush-fringed bank. . . . 

 I should have mentioned that, on very still evenings, when 

 my ear was close to the ground, I fancied I heard him 

 utter a very short, shrill, feeble sibilation, not unlike that 

 of the grasshopper-lark, in mild, light summer nights, 

 but nothing near so loud, or long continued. Though I 

 have watched for him warily in that and other . places, 

 after having, to the end of May, contributed to the 

 myriads of my amusements, I never saw him more." * 



* Hag. Nat. Hist., il, p. 219. 



