Scraps in Natural History. 241 



ous combat would ensue. Once the younger one perceived the 

 other close in its rear ; it sent forth a shrill chirp, wheeled about 

 suddenly and came to close quarters with the rightful resident of 

 the box, to whose superior strength, however, it ultimately fell a 

 prey. The dead body was dragged below and deposited in the 

 soft bed of the shrew, which now, for what reason I do not know, 

 began to construct a new nest. 



The voice of this animal in retreating to its harboring places, 

 is almost precisely that of the ground-squirrel, being a rapidly 

 uttered chip-chip-chip. Its propensity to gnaw is considerable, 

 but perhaps not so great as that of the mouse. Repeated experi- 

 ments have convinced me, that (unless peculiar odors are an ex- 

 ception) its sight and smell cannot extend beyond the distance 

 of half an inch ; but its sense of hearing is extremely acute. 



Dr. Godman says of shrews : " These animals rarely come out 

 in the day-time, and are so small as to require very close atten- 

 tion to observe their modes of living." My captive ventured out 

 of his own accord, equally in the day as in the night ; and I 

 never experienced any difficulty in observing its " modes of liv- 

 ing." The same author states, that though insects are their 

 principal subsistence, they seem no less fond of " putrid flesh, 

 and filth of various sorts." Such a character by no means befits 

 the short-tailed shrew ; for the one in my possession was as 

 cleanly, tidy, and choice in the quality of his food, as any little 

 quadruped I ever knew ; always bringing out the putrid worms 

 and decaying grains from his cell, and always preferring the liv- 

 ing to the dead : his habitation was as clean as possible, egestion 

 being performed in a concealed corner. I can also say on behalf 

 of my prisoner, that during the two spring months of his depend- 

 ence upon me for subsistence, I never perceived any annoying 

 smell, much less that disgusting odor with which, like the pole- 

 cat, shrews are said to stand charged. 



Could this little animal be domesticated, so as to be serviceable 

 in exterminating mice from our dwellings? 



Mustela pusilla, or Weasel. — I purchased one of half a dozen 

 weasels which were found near town in the same nest, and put 

 it into a box ; in a short time it coiled itself up and slept. Not 

 being easily roused from its slumbers, I have repeatedly been 

 able to " catch a weasel asleep." It frequently cried, but appa- 



Vol. slvi, No. 2.— Jan.-March, 1844. 31 



