The Least Shrew in Captivity^ 



Howard H. Cleaves 



Because of his diminutive size and peculiar habits, perhaps, 

 there is no local mammal that has been observed less and about 

 which less has been written than the least shrew, Blarina -parva 

 (Say). In fact, not until recently (that is, within the past few 

 years) were any taken at all on Staten Island, and not until very 

 recently were any obtained in a sufficiently perfect and healthy 

 condition to allow of their being kept for any appreciable length 

 of time in captivity. I believe that heretofore the specimens 

 found were either dead or were killed in the catching. Mr. 

 James Chapin has one or two records of having found identifiable 

 parts in owl pellets. The reason, it is said, that both the short- 

 tailed and the least shrews are not taken more frequently by owls 

 and hawks is that the birds of prey object to the disagreeable 

 odor that both of these mammals give off. It is, indeed, very 

 offensive, even to the human nose, and if the tiny beasts taste 

 anything like what this odor might imply, it can be readily under- 

 stood why hawks and owls, even in winter, when hard pressed 

 for food, abide by the rule of " hands off," or rather " talons off." 



On Sunday, September 25, 1910, Mr. Alanson Skinner came to 

 my house at " Prince's Bay " and turned over to me two least 

 shrews which he and the Wort boys had captured at " Lake's Is- 

 land," Staten Island. Out on this lonely piece of land, which is 

 not an island at all, but simply a sandy strip isolated from the 

 mainland by salt meadows, there stands an old deserted house, and 

 near the house, where it is evident that a barn once stood, there 

 are strewn over the ground large sections of tarred paper. It has 

 been our custom for several years to go each fall to this area and 

 hunt for meadow mice under the pieces of paper. Two or three 



* Presented at a meeting of the Section of Biology, October 31. tqio. 



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