WATER SHREW. 151 



concealed, gun in hand, for the purpose of shooting some 

 carrion crows, near a hillside ditch, at Temple Grafton, 

 near Stratford-on-Avon, had his attention called to a 

 Shrew of this species, which was busily engaged in 

 seeking for food amongst the stones in the rapid but 

 shallow water at the bottom of the ditch. These it 

 turned over, or displaced, by forcing itself under them, 

 and in this manner several of large size, compared with 

 that of the animal itself, were removed. The food 

 appeared to be taken at the moment the stone was raised 

 from its resting-place, though in some instances by the 

 animal merely poking its long snout under the stone, 

 without lifting it ; but in every case, when caught, it 

 was conveyed to the side to be devoured. It consisted 

 of some small creatures having hard parts, which the 

 Shrew was heard crunching up in the process of mas- 

 tication. 



Shortly afterwards the spot was pointed out to us, 

 and, on examination, we found the pretty stream Sessile- 

 eyed Crustacean, Gammarus Pulex, in plenty under the 

 stones in the ditch, and entertained but little doubt 

 that it was on these small crustaceans that the 

 Shrew was feeding, and that the crushing sound ob- 

 served during mastication was occasioned by their hard 

 coverings. 



We do not know whether the Water Shrew is pisci- 

 vorous in its habits, though it is not unlikely that it may 

 feed on the spawn or fry of minnows, or other small fish, 

 but to its carnivorous propensities we can ourselves bear 

 testimony. Having occasion to enter an outhouse used 

 as a carpenter's shop, at Welford Hill, we were somewhat 

 surprised to hear the shrill chattering squeak of a Shrew, 

 and its quick rustle, or rather rush, amongst the shavings 

 upon the floor. Remaining still for a few minutes, we 



