THE OARED SHREW. 351 



insects that pass that stage of their existence in the mnd. It also chases and captures 

 various aquatic insects as they move through the water, and will not disdain to feed upon 

 moths and other similar creatures which have fallen or have been blown into the water and 

 then drowned. 



In all its movements, the Water Shrew is extremely graceful and active, displaying equal 

 agility, whether its movements be terrestrial or aquatic. As the sphere of its vision does not 

 appear to be very extended, it can easily be approached while it is engaged in its little gambols, 

 and can be watched without much difficulty. 



I have repeatedly observed the proceedings of a little colony of these creatures, and wife 

 able to sit within a yard or two of their haunts without their cognizance of my person. They 

 are most sportive little creatures, and seem to enjoy a game of play with thorough appreciation, 

 chasing each other over the ground and through the water, running up the stems of aquatic 

 plants, and tumbling off the leaves into the water, scrambling hastily over the stones around 

 which the stream ripples, and playing a thousand little pranks with the most evident enjoy- 

 ment. Then they will suddenly cease their play, and begin to search after insects with the 

 utmost gravity, rooting in the banks, and picking up stray flies, as if they never had any other 

 business in view. 



As it is in the habit of repeatedly passing over the same ground in these mutual chases, it 

 soon treads a kind of path or road upon the land, which, although very obscurely marked, is 

 yet sufficiently well defined to attract the attention of any one who is conversant with the habits 

 of these little creatures. 



Being an excellent diver, and fond of submerging itself wholly beneath the surface, the 

 Water Shrew would suffer great inconvenience were its ears to be constantly filled with the 

 liquid element in which it moves ; and in order to avert such an inconvenience, a special pro- 

 vision of nature is needed. For this purpose the ears are peculiarly formed, so that as soon as 

 the animal is wholly submerged, the pressure of the water acts upon three small valves, which 

 fold together and effectually prevent the entrance of a single drop of water into the cavity of 

 the ear. As soon as the animal rises to the surface, the pressure is removed, and the ears 

 unfold like the petals of a flower, when the sun shines warmly on them. 



From repeated observations, it seems that the Water Shrew is not entirely confined to the 

 neighborhood of water, neither is it totally dependent for its subsistance on aquatic insects, for 

 it has been frequently seen at some distance from any stream or pond. 



It must be remarked, however, that a very small rivulet is amply sufficient for the pur- 

 poses of the Water Shrew, which will take up its residence for several years in succession on 

 the banks of a little artificial channel that is only used for the purpose of carrying water for 

 the irrigation of low-lying fields. 



It is believed that the Water Shrew is a more prolific animal than the erd Shrew, 

 for whereas the latter creature produces from five to seven young at a litter, the former 

 is blessed with a family of seven, eight, or nine in number, six or seven being the ordinary 

 average. 



The total length of the Water Shrew is not quite four inches and a half, the length of the 

 head and body being a little more than three inches, and that of the tail being about two 

 inches. Its snout, although long, is not quite so narrow and pointed as that of the erd Shrew, 

 and its ears are remarkably small. When it swims, it has a curious habit of spreading out its 

 sides, so as to flatten the body as it floats upon the water. 



The largest of the European Shrews is that species which is called the Oared Shrew, on 

 account of the oar-like formation of the feet and tail ; which are edged with even longer and 

 stiffer hairs than those which decorate the same parts in the water Shrew. 



As may be imagined from this structure, the habits of the animal are aquatic in 

 their nature, and its manners are so closely similar to those of the preceding species, 

 that it may easily be mistaken for that animal, when seen at a little distance, so as to render 

 the difference in size less conspicuous, and the color of the under portions of the body less 

 apparent. 



