THE SHREW. 



only in fossil remains. How great would have been the admi- 

 ration evoked by its soft, velvet-like fur, its tiny eyes deeply 

 hidden in the fur, so as to be sheltered from the earth through 

 which the animal is continually making its way, the strange 

 mixture of strength and softness in the palms of its fore feet, 

 and the elastic springiness of its nose. 



But, because it is a native of our own country, and to be found 

 in eveiy field, there are but few who care to examine a creature 

 so common, or who experience any feelings save those of con- 

 tempt or disgust, when they see a Mole making its way over the 

 ground in search of a soft spot in which to burrow, or pass by 

 the place where the mole-catcher has strung up his victims on 

 the trees as Louis XI. was accustomed to suspend the bodies of 

 those who had committed the crime of trespassing on the royal 

 domains. For my own part, I am but too glad that such won- 

 derful beings are common, and am thankful for so many oppor 

 tunities of studying the works of Him who has made the lowly 

 Mole as carefully as the lordly man. 



There are many other burrowing animals allied to the mole ; 

 and although it will be impossible to give illustrations of their 

 burrows, they ought not to be passed by without a casual notice. 



The Shrews, for example, are among the burrowers, and 

 although their eyes are full and round, their fore quarters of 

 ordinary proportions, and their fore feet of the usual shape, 

 there is something about the head, with its long mobile snout, 

 which strongly reminds the observer of the same member in the 

 mole. These pretty little creatures reside within their burrows 

 during the day, and are therefore seldom seen in a living state, 

 except by those who are in the habit of traversing the country 

 by night in search of specimens. Dead Shrews are common 

 enough, having probably been killed by predatory animals, but 

 left uneaten on the ground, in consequence of the powerful 

 odour which they evolve. 



At the end of the burrow the Shrew makes its nest, which is 

 composed of dry grasses and other herbage, and is of a partly 

 globular form 



