332 Enemies of Bees — Shrews, 



SHREWS. 



These are mole-like animals, and look not unlike a mouse 

 ■with a long pointed nose like the moles, to which they are 

 closely related. They are insectivorous and have needle 

 shaped teeth, quite unlike those of the Rodentia which in- 

 cludes the true mice. I have received from Illinois and Mis- 

 souri species of the short-tailed shrews— ^ferina — which enter 

 the hives in winter and eat the bees, only refusing the head 

 and wings. They injure the combs but little. As they 

 will pass through a space three-eighths of an inch wide, it is 

 not easy to keep them out of hives where the bees are winter- 

 ed on their summer stands. I have received a short-tailed 

 shrew, Blarina brevicmtda, Gray, which was taken in the hives 

 by Mr. Little, of Illinois. 



