Scraps in Natural History. 239 



of its violent contortions the shrew ate it with avidity, some- 

 times confining the motions of the worm by pressing it down 

 Avith its fore feet. By proper attention, he became in a few days 

 unconcerned at my presence, and when I threw in additional 

 blocks of wood, &c. he came out into full view to adjust them, 

 dragging large pieces a considerable distance with apparent ease. 

 For days and weeks he received corn, insects and worms from 

 my hand, but always with that sudden snatch that characterized 

 it at the beginning. If I held fast to the worm, he would tug at 

 the other end, and jerk at it, till I let go, or the worm was lace- 

 rated by his efforts. At such times I have often raised him into 

 the air by means of the worm. When a number of worms were 

 thrown in together, I never knew him to take one from the mass, 

 unless he could seize an end which projected from the heap. 

 Flesh of all kinds, fresh fish, coleopterous as well as other insects, 

 sings, millepeds, corn, oats, and every kind of grain which was 

 tried, appeared to be acceptable food. The corcle of the grains 

 of maize was always eaten out, as it is by rats and mice. 



When this little quadruped was satiated with food, it never 

 ceased to store away the surplus provisions it' might be supplied 

 with, till its granaries and other repositories were filled. I say 

 granaries and other repositories, for on carefully opening into his 

 various recesses, I ascertained that he had separate storehouses : 

 one for corn, which was neatly packed away, grain upon grain, 

 flatwise ; another for his oats ; and a third for worms and insects. 

 One day I discovered that he had brought out a number of grains 

 of corn which had sprouted ; and the granary having been damp- 

 ened by water, accidentally spilled in the box, I afterward found 

 the shrew had garbled his grain and conveyed the sound corn to 

 a drier repository. When water was put into the box, he wet 

 his tongue two or three times and went away ; but when worms 

 were dropped into the cup, he returned, waded about in the water, 

 snatched up his victim, maimed it, stored it away, and returned 

 repeatedly for more, till all were secured. 



By gentle attentions, I had by this time so far subdued his 

 timidity, and instructed him in my language, that by night or by 

 day, and at all times, whether in his hiding places in the box, or 

 running at large in the room, or safely ensconced in secret and 

 inaccessible fissures, he was ready to come at my call, and re- 

 ceive from my hand his accustomed meal. It was curious to ob- 



