ORDER CARNASSliiE. 17 



large as two-thirds of the head; in other re- 

 spects, like ours in form and habits. It is found 

 from the north of the Caspian Sea as far as 



Egypt*. 



The Shrews (Sorex, Lin.) 



Are animals generally much smaller than the hedge- 

 hogs, and covered with simple hairs instead of 

 prickles. On each flank, under the ordinary skin, is 

 found a little band of stiff and close hairs, from which 

 distils an odoriferous humour, produced by a pecu- 

 liar gland. 



The two middle incisors of the upper row are 

 crooked and indented at the base. They remain in 

 holes which they dig in the earth, seldom going out 

 till towards evening, and live on worms and insects. 

 But one species has for a long time been remarked 

 in France. 



The common Shrew, or Musette (Sorex Araneus, Lin.) Buff. 

 VIII. x. i. 



Gray, with a square tail as long as the body. 

 They are found in considerable numbers in the 

 country, in the meadows, Sfc. They have been 

 accused of causing a malady among horses by 

 their bite ; but this imputation is false, and has 

 probably originated in the fact, that though cats 



* Pallas has remarked, as an interesting fact, that hedgehogs 

 eat hundreds of cantharides with impunity, while a single one will 

 cause such horrible torments to cats and dogs. 



Vol. II. C 



