142 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



INSECTIVORA. 



Curious Variety of the Mole. — During last autumn five Moles (Talpa 

 europcea) were caught on different dates at Morvilie, near Bridgnorth, 

 Salop. They were of a peculiar colour — glossy light pearl-grey all over, 

 except the under parts, which were bright buff, the general effect being 

 very pretty. On Nov. 11th Mr. W. F. Warren kindly sent me one in the 

 flesh, which is now in the Shrewsbury Museum. I have seen mounted 

 cream and buff coloured Moles before, but never one like the above. — 

 H. E. Forrest (Shrewsbury). 



Lesser Shrew in Worcestershire. — As upon reference I cannot find 

 that the Lesser Shrew (Sorex minutus) has been taken previously in this 

 county, it may be as well to record one taken by the writer at Lower 

 Hagley on Jan. 19th last. — J. Steele-Elliott (Clent, Worcestershire). 



Water Shrews taken Three Miles from Water.— During a short trip 

 to Banstead last August, trapping small mammals, I was lucky enough to 

 catch three Water Shrews (Neomys fodiens) (two males and a female), two 

 in a small copse, and one in a hedge adjoining, at a distance of about three 

 miles from water. The weather was excessively hot, and the ground like a 

 rock. I think this is the first authentic British record of the occurrence 

 of this Shrew at such a distance from water. I am aware that it is well 

 known that this Shrew can exist at some little distance from water, as the 

 following quotations show ; but I think my record will be found to be the 

 farthest known : — Bell's ■ Brit. Quads.' : " It is often found at some distance 

 from water. There can be no doubt that it occasionally seeks its food on 

 the land, probably when it has exhausted the ditch or brook to which it has 

 attached itself." Also Jenyns, in his ■ Brit. Verts.,' mentions : " My speci- 

 men was taken in a corn-field at some distance from any water." If this 

 question were looked up I have no doubt it would be found that this 

 animal can live entirely away from water like the Vole. — C. H. B. Grant 

 (Putney). 



