1865.] MR. AUSTEN ON THE HABITS OF THE WATER-SHREW. 521 
running about their cage, these Shrews often uttered a shrill sibilant 
chirp, resembling the note of the Grasshopper-Lark. They would 
also play in the water, half rearing up and striking with their fore 
paws, or rolling over and over each other on the surface. Though 
appearing perfectly reconciled to captivity, they manifested no attach- 
ment, nor especial tameness, biting viciously when touched. They 
lived with me in this way several months in perfect health, till, the 
cage-door being accidentally left open one day in my absence, the 
inmates levanted, as a matter of course, and were never seen or heard 
of afterwards. I hope, however, shortly to obtain more, as when 
treated properly, and supplied with plenty of water, they thrive, and 
might probably be induced to breed in confinement. Besides the 
Common Shrew, which is exclusively terrestrial, another species, the 
Oared Shrew (Crossopus remifer), is found in Britain. For some 
time this animal was confounded with the Water-Shrew, as its habits 
are similar, and it frequents the same situations. It differs, how- 
ever, in colour, the black on the back and sides being flecked with 
white hairs, the throat and abdomen blackish grey tinged with yel- 
low. Though scarcer than the two other kinds, the Oared Shrew 
is more abundant than is often supposed by naturalists, as I have 
several times caught it in different parts of Hertfordshire and Surrey. 
I must here remark that the ears of both the Oared and Water- 
Shrew are furnished with a peculiar and beautifully contrived appa- 
ratus by which the water is excluded from those organs. It consists 
of three small valves, which fold together when the animal dives, 
effectually preventing the entrance of a single drop of moisture. As 
soon, however, as the pressure is removed, on the Shrew rising to 
the surface, they reopen spontaneously. Without this provision of 
nature, the animal would constantly be annoyed by the water filling 
the cavities and irritating the delicate membranes of the ear. 
The dimensions of full-grown individuals of the three species are 
as follows :— 
Common Shrew. in. lines. 
Watal lene Pe ie. PEGE he le ex 4 1 
(leader nein a ahs Bee o's 2, 1 2 
FLAT LPL Sars, Noe MUNN a A Sigel toms SE 8 ci 1 9 
1B Ueno 18 (5(0] Rose Hn Gon SE Rea eee ee Onur 
W ater-Shrew. 
ocallenm tga setts et o)2o Beles ole ponte Oo wile 
1B AGG leet Rees coe Bea A Sa ei, Pe empee wen ot ] 5 
TET SS, lo aA beech aie ch ne re oe ice 24 al 
inpetoob nase ae res oe ee OP 5 
Oared Shrew. 
SEE MEMC RAE ye taicta ey sn tceke sere oe Oval 
Header ee, bs. es SERS ] 7 
Pall wesprers eee | 1° OREN © 008 00 RE Rae i he | 
Hind" foot testes Sets. PES FRR 0): 24887 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1865, No. XXXIV. 
