326 INSECTIVORES. 



toothless young ; the number in each litter being usually five, six, or seven, but 



occasionally more. 



In Ireland the place of the common shrew is taken by the lesser 



shrew {8. jyygnueus), which, although also found in England, is there 



much more rare. It may be distinguished by its inferior size, and also bj'' the 



circumstance that the third tooth from the extremitj^ of the upper jaw (the third 



incisor) is not longer than tlie fourtL Like its larger cousin, this species has an 



extensive range in Europe and Asia north of the Himalaya, but does not extend 



across Behring Strait into America. 



In marked contrast to the wide range of these species is the 

 Alpine Shrew 



restricted distribution of the Alpine slu'ew (S. alpinus), a species of 



rather larger size than the common shrew, and distinguished bv the uniform 



coloration of the upper and imder surfaces of t)ie body. Tliis shrew is only found 



in the mountains of Central Europe. 



Nortn American A variation in size comparable to that existing among the 



Shrews. European members of the genus is likewise found in its North 



American representatives, among which Bendire's shrew (S. bendirei) is the largest, 



and Cooper's shrew (S. cooperi) the smallest form. Of the latter Dr. Hart Merriam 



writes that " although underground life does not appear to be as attractive to it as 



to its relatives the moles, yet it avoids too much exposure, and commonh' moves, by 



night and by daj', under cover of the fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris that 



always cover the ground in our northern forests. The naturalist well knows that, 



however cautiously he may walk, the stir of his footsteps puts to flight many forms 



of life that will reappear as soon as quiet is restored : therefore, in his excui-sions 



tlxrough the woods, he waits and watches, frequently stopping to listen and observe. 



While thus occupied, it sometimes happens that a slight nistling reaches his ear. 



There is no wind, but the eye rests upon a fallen leaf that seems to move. Presently 



another stire, and perhaps a third turns completely over. Then something evanescent, 



like the shadow of an enibiyonic mouse, appeai-s and vanishes before the eye can 



catch its perfect image. Anon the restless phantom flits across an open space, 



leaving no trace beliind. But a charge of fine shot dropped with quick aim upon 



the next leaf that moves will usually solve the mystery. The author of the pei"- 



plesing commotion is found to be a curious shai"p-nosed creature, no bigger than one's 



little finger, and weighing hardly more than half a drachm. Its ceaseless acti\nty, 



and the rapidity with which it darts from place to place, are truly astonishing, and 



rarely permit the observer a correct impression of its form. Whenever a tree or a 



large limb falls to the ground these shrews soon find it, examining everj' part with 



great care, and if a knot-hole or crex'ice is detected, leading to a cavity within, they 



are pretty sure to enter, carrj- in materials for a nest, and take formal possession. . . 



Not only are these agile and restless little shrews voracious and almost insatiable, 



consuming incredible quantities of raw meat and insects with great eagerness, but 



they are veritable cannibals withal, and will even slay and devour their OAvn kind." 



The marsh-shrew (S. j^'lustrit!) from the Eocky Mountains, together with the 



swimming shrew (S. hydrodromxis) from one of the Aleutian Islands, difler from the 



other members of tlie genus in having their feet provided with fringes of long hair 



to aid them in their aquatic life. 



