\Q CLASS MAMMALIA. 



will kill these animals readily, they refuse to eat 

 them, in consequence of their powerful odour. 

 Daubenton has made known another species. 



The Water Shrew. (Sorex Fodiens, Gm.) Buff. VIII. xi. 



Black above, white underneath ; squared tail, as 

 long as the body. When it plunges in the 

 water the ear is almost hermetically sealed by 

 means of three small valves which correspond 

 with the helix, the tragus, and the antitragus. 

 The small stiff hairs which border the feet afford 

 it the facility of swimming, and accordingly its 

 favourite haunts are the banks of rivulets. 

 Herman, M. Gall, and M. Geoffroy, have added 

 some other species. 



The Desmans (Mygale, Cuv.) 



Differ from the shrews by two very small teeth, 

 placed between the two large incisors below, and 

 also by having the two upper incisors of a triangular 

 form, and somewhat flattened. The muzzle is 

 lengthened into a very small and flexible snout, 

 which is in a state of continual agitation. Their 

 long tail, scaly and flattened at the sides, and their 

 feet with five toes all united together by membranes, 

 constitute them aquatic animals. Their eyes are very 

 small and they have no external ears. 



The Desman of Russia, vulg. The Russian Musk Rat. 

 (Sorex Moschatus, Lin.) Buff. X. i. 



Almost as large as a hedgehog, of an ashy-gray ; 



