1865.] MR. AUSTEN ON THE HABITS OF THE WATER-SHREW. 519 
of minute arrow-headed markings of brown with white intervals. 
Purchased at the Denisson sale, and not yet placed. 
Conus MULTICATENATUS. Pl. XXXII. f.10,11. Testa brevis, 
solida, acutangulata, levis, alba, prope angulum distanter 
nigro maculata, fasciis latis duabus interruptis et linea textili 
interrupta mediana cincta ; super fascias lineis fuscis, maculis 
rotundis albis catenatis ornata; lateribus rectiusculis ; spira 
brevi, distanter et late maculata, anfractibus supra concavis. 
Hab. ? (Mus. Denisson) (olim). 
A rather short shell, with straight sides ; the spire flat, excepting 
close to the apex, where it becomes accuminated ; but the top of the 
whorls are excavated. The angle is marked with distant angular 
black spots; above it is formed a sort of star by the centripetal 
bearing of six large chestnut spots. Upon the broad chestnut bands 
are chain-like cinctures formed of round or oval white spots inter- 
rupting dark lines. Purchased at the Denisson sale, and not yet 
placed. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXII. 
Figs. 1, 2. Scintilla semiclausa. Figs. 8, 9. Conus sagittatus. 
3. —— oblonga. 10, 11. multicatenatus. 
4. lactea. 12, 13. subcarinatus. 
5, 6. rosea. 14, straturatus. 
7. Pythina striatissima. 
5. On tHe Hasirs or tHe Warer-SHrew (Crossopus Fo- 
DIENS). By N. L. Ausren, Esa. 
I am induced to offer you the following account of the Water- 
Shrew, as the animal in question, though tolerably abundant in many 
localities, may not have come under the personal observation of some 
of my hearers. I have also never seen it mentioned as having been 
kept with success in confinement, and therefore will attempt to de- 
scribe as accurately as possible the habits of a pair that lived in my 
possession for a considerable time, hoping that the details may not 
prove altogether uninteresting. In form this Shrew closely resembles 
the common species, the snout being lengthened in the same manner, 
and the fur having the same velvety softness of texture. In size, 
however, it is superior, a full-grown male measuring a little more 
than 5 inches in total length, whereas the Field-Shrew rarely exceeds 
4 inches; the feet and tail are fringed with stiff white hairs, which are 
of great assistance to the creature when swimming. The colour on 
the head and back is commonly of a rich jetty black, on the sides and 
underparts pure white; the line of demarcation between the two 
colours very distinctly defined, adding much to the beauty of the fur ; 
a small tuft of white hairs is also noticeable at the corner of the ear. 
The Water-Shrew, as its name implies, is usually found in the 
vicinity of pools and rivulets, where it forms in the banks long and 
winding burrows, which penetrate for a considerable distance into 
