ERD SHREW AND SONDE LI. 



347 



This animal is a native of various parts of India, and is very well known on account of the 

 extremely powerful scent which exudes from certain glands that are situated in the under 

 parts of the body and on the flanks. 



The odoriferous substance, which is secreted by the above-mentioned glands, is of a 

 musky nature, and possesses the property of penetrating and adhering to every substance over 

 which the Musk-Rat has passed. The musky odor clings so pertinaciously to the objects 

 which are impregnated with its tainting contact, that in many cases they become entirely 

 useless. Provisions of all kinds are frequently spoiled by the evil odor with which they are 

 saturated ; and of so penetrating a nature is the musky scent, that the combined powers of 

 glass and cork are unable to preserve the contents of bottles from its unpleasant influence. 

 Let but a Sondeli run over a bottle of wine, and the contained liquid will be so powerfully 

 scented with a musky savor that it will be rendered unlit for civilized palates, and must be 



EKD SHREW.— Corsira vulgaris. 



SONDELI.— Sorex murinus. 



removed from the neighborhood of other wines, lest the contaminating influence should extend 

 to them also. 



In color it is not unlike the common shrew, having a slight chestnut, or reddish tinge, 

 upon a mouse-colored ground, fading into gray on the under parts of the body. In size, 

 however, it is much the superior of that animal ; being nearly as large as the common brown or 

 " Hanoverian " rat. The hair is very short, and the peculiar reddish-brown hue of the fur is 

 caused by the different tintings of the upper and under fur. 



During the autumnal- months of the year, the country roads and by-paths are frequently 

 rendered remarkable by the presence of little mouse-like animals, with long snouts and 

 peculiarly squared tails, that lie dead upon the ground, without mark of external injury to 

 account for the manner of their decease. 



There are probably many other such corpses upon the wide and grassy meadow lands, but, 

 owing to the nature of the ground, they are not so conspicuous as those upon the smoothly 

 trodden paths. The presence of these deceased creatures is the more remarkable, because 

 there are so many predatory animals and birds, such as cats, weasels, stoats, owls, and hawks, 

 which would be very likely to kill such small prey, but, having slain them, would be almost 

 sure to eat them. These unsepultured remains are the bodies of the Shrew-mouse of England, 

 otherwise known by the name of Erd Shrew. Another title by which this little animal is 

 known, in some parts of England, is the Fetid Shrew ; a name which has been given to it on 



