SHREWS 



of the way of its squirmings, jump at its head, 

 give it two or three nips, away again, and 

 another bite at the tail ; after which it re- 

 turned to the head of the xinfortunate worm, 

 gave it a fierce tug and pulled it under the moss. 

 Indeed the lesser shrew does not seem to have 

 room for fear in its tiny brain, and will un- 

 hesitatingly attack creatures much bigger than 

 itself. The one mentioned above when put 

 for a few moments into the same cage as three 

 bank voles, which had been there for some 

 time and had made themselves a very nice 

 comfortable bed, quickly invaded their nest, 

 turned them out, and made itself at home 

 therein. One bank vole went back to try and 

 turn it out, but instantly there was a shrill 

 squeak, a tiny open mouth showing an array of 

 wee teeth appealed in the entrance, and the vole 

 tumbled backwards in a great fright. As the 

 latter was several times bigger than the shrew, 

 its fear of the tiny stranger seemed rather 

 silly! 



The water shrew is quite different from the 

 common and pigmy kinds, being a handsome 

 species, black above, white below, and generally 

 marked with white at the tips of the ears. It 

 is bigger, too, being about three and a half 



85 



