THE ZOOLOGIST 



FOR 1848. 



Habits of the Common Shrew. — Early in October T caught in a plantation, a shrew 

 (Sorex araneus) in a mousetrap baited with a nut ; I put it into a tin bath with some 

 mould in it and a piece of turf, and have been much interested in watching- its habits. 

 Like all the insectivorous animals, it is very impatient of hunger, and its eagerness 

 for food renders it tame. It ate a worm from my hand whilst in the trap. I fed it on 

 cockroaches and spiders, which it appeared to like better than worms. The quantity 

 it would eat was surprising. Sometimes two or three dozen cockroaches were given to 

 it in the evening, and in the morning all were gone except the legs, wings, &c, 

 although the bath was covered up so that they could not get out. In its habits 

 it was very active, always on the move, and usually making a shrill squeaking noise 

 whilst hunting for food. It appeared to follow its prey by scent, and not much 

 by sight. In eating a cockroach, it seized it behind the head, and then began to eat 

 from the head downwards, eating all the body except the legs and wings. Shrews are 

 very pugnacious. I put a dead one into the bath, when the living one seized 

 it directly by the head, trying to shake it. When frightened, it emitted a disagreeable 

 musky smell ; and this is, as I conclude, the reason why cats will kill the shrews but 

 not eat them. After keeping it about a fortnight, during which time it remained in 

 perfect health, I let it go, being about to leave home. — Henri/ Barclay ; Lei/ton, 

 Essex, October \7th, 1847. 



Variety of the Common Squirrel. — I have to day seen a fine variety of this interest- 

 ing little animal. It is of the usual colour, excepting that the mystachial bristles, 

 the nose and upper lips, the fore feet, two joints of the toes in the hind feet, and the 

 whole of the claws are white. There is a band of white, about an inch in breadth, 

 near the middle of the body, proceeding from the white of the belly, and nearly meet- 

 ing on the back. The tail has also, towards the tip, a band of the same colour, two 

 inches in breadth, which, when the tail is arched over the back is parallel with 

 the patches on the sides. It was shot in the neighbourhood of Hexham, Nor- 

 thumberland. — Thomas John Bold; 42, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Novem- 

 ber 27th, 1847. 



Note on Cows having Twin Calves. — A supposition exists amongst many country 

 people, which has been strengthend in some measure by the remarks of scientific men 

 VI B 



