THE WATER SHREW. 101 
at the side. In this nest are produced the young Shrews, from five to seven 
in number, and, as may be imagined, extremely diminutive in size. They are 
generally born in the spring. 
The total length of the adult Shrew is not quite four inches, of which the 
tail occupies very nearly the moiety. 
SIMILAR to the Erd Shrew in general aspect, but easily to be distinguished 
from that animal by its colour and other peculiarities, the WATER SHREW 
stands next on our list. 
The fur of the Water Shrew is nearly black upon the upper portions of the 
body, instead of the reddish brown colour which tints the fur of the Erd 
Shrew. The under parts of the body are beautifully white, and the line of 
demarcation between the two colours is very distinctly drawn. The fur is 
very soft and silken in texture, and, when the animal is submerged under the 
surface of the water, possesses the useful property of repelling moisture, 
and preserving the body of the animal from the injurious effects of the 
water. 
When the Water Shrew is engaged in swimming, those parts of the fur 
which are submerged below the sur- 
face appear to be studded with an ; j RN 
infinite number of tiny silvern bead- Gof ius ae. \ 
lets, that give to the whole animal a 
very singular aspect. This pheno- 
menon is produced by the minute 
air-bubbles that cling to the fur, and 
which exude from the space that is 
left between the hairs. In fact, the : 
Shrew Mouse, when immersed, bears é 
a curious resemblance to the well- WATER SHREW.—(Crossopus Fodiens). 
known Water Spider. 
A further distinction, and one which is more valuable than that which is 
furnished by the colour of the fur, is the fringe of stiff white hairs which 
edges the tail and the toes. 
Tn all its movements the Water Shrew is extremely graceful and active, 
displaying equal agility, whether its movements be terrestrial or aquatic. 
I have repeatedly observed the proceedings of a little colony of these 
animals, and was 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 enjoyment. 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. 
From repeated observations, it seems that the Water Shrew is not entirely 
confined to the neighbourhood of water, neither is it totally dependent for its 
subsistence 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 purposes 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. ; 
THE largest of the British Shrews is that species which is called the OARED 
SHREW, on account of the oar-like formation of the feet and tail, which are 
