288 Quadrupeds. 



Note on the Mortality/ of the Common Shrew. " Both our species of Sorex seem to 

 feed by preference on insects and worms ; and thus, like the mole, their flesh is rank 

 and offensive to most creatures, which reject them as food. The common shrew, in 

 spring and summer, is ordinarily in motion even during the day, from sexual attach- 

 ment, which occasions the destruction of numbers by cats , and other prowling animals ; 

 and thus we find them strewed in our paths, by gateways, and in our garden walks, 

 dropped by these animals in their progress. It was once thought that some periodi- 

 cal disease occasioned this mortality of the species ; but I think we may now conclude 

 that violence alone is the cause of their destruction in these instances. The bite of 

 this creature was considered by the ancients as peculiarly noxious, even to horses and 

 large cattle, and variety of the most extraordinary remedies for the wound, and pre- 

 ventives against it, are mentioned by Pliny and others. The prejudices of antiquity, 

 long as they usually are in keeping possession of the mind, have not been remembered 

 by us ; and we only know the hardy shrew now as a perfectly harmless animal, though 

 we still retain a name for it expressive of something malignant and spiteful.'' — Knapp^s 

 ^Journal of a Naturalist,^ p. 145. 



Note on a Singing Mouse. Our fathers had talking birds out of number — parrots, 

 cockatoos, ravens, magpies, jackdaws, nightingales, bullfinches and canaries; they were 

 favoured with exhibitions of highly accomplished pigs, dogs, elephants, monkeys and 

 bears : but we believe a singing mouse is a rarity reserved to comfort the present ge- 

 neration of men. Having received a card of invitation, we were not long in availing 

 ourselves of so distinguished a privilege ; and whatever doubts we might previously 

 have entertained, they at once vanished when we found ourselves face to face with the 

 murine Orpheus. His song is very subdued, occasionally almost inaudible, but the 

 notes are sweet, and follow in rapid succession like those of a very voluble canary ; in 

 fact, if the mouth of a canary were carefully closed, and the bird, in revenge, were to 

 turn ventriloquist, and sing in the very centre of his stomach, we should have just that 

 subdued melody in which the mouse seems to delight. The gift appears perfectly na- 

 tural, and exercised solely for the pleasure of its possessor. 



The history of the mouse is on this wise. A lady residing at No. 24, Red Cross 

 Square, after retiring to her chamber for the night, heard strains of delicious music, 

 now swelling on the ear, and anon dying away as in the recesses of a closet. Could it 

 be the ghost of a departed canary bird, revisiting the scenes of his captivity? Could it 

 be a fetch with mellifluous voice, come to summon her from this wearisome world ? 

 Could it be an enamoured and gallant Lothario, serenading some coy beauty of the 

 Square with a bird-organ ? Ah ; no! Could it be a living bird ? The cat was sug- 

 gested as a remedy. Grimalkin was summoned to catch or scare away the nocturnal 

 melodist. It was to no purpose ; the cat's attention was absorbed by the mice, and 

 the room was filled with music as before. The cat was dismissed and traps were set. 

 A mouse was caught — a fine handsome fellow, and a perfect patriarch in magnitude 

 and years. He was about to be hurried to execution, when lo ! he burst forth into 

 song. The mysterious music was explained at once. The life of the captive was 

 spared, and he daily and hourly pours forth his gentle song for the amusement of all 

 who incline to visit him ; and we trust that not one of our readers who has the oppor- 

 tunity will omit to do so. We assure them that he is a zoological curiosity, quite 

 worthy of examination. His address is still at 24, Red Cross Square. — Ed. 



