154 FETID SHREW. Class I. 



like those of the mole, almost concealed in the 

 hair. The color of the head, and upper part of 

 the body, is of a brownish dusky red ; the belly 

 of a dirty white ; the tail is covered with short 

 dusky hairs ; the legs are very short ; the feet 

 are divided into five toes. Above and below 

 are two slender cutting teeth pointing forward, 

 and on each a minute process ; the rest of the 

 teeth are so closely united, as to appear a con- 

 tinued serrated bone in every jaw ; the whole 

 number is twenty eight. 

 Manners. The shrew inhabits old walls, heaps of stones, 

 and holes in the earth ; is frequently found near 

 hayricks, dunghills, and necessary houses ; is 

 often observed rooting like a swine in ordure : 

 it lives on corn, insects, and any filth ; from its 

 food or the places it frequents, has a disagree- 

 able smell ; cats will kill but not eat it. Brings 

 four or five young at a time. In August there 

 is an annual mortality of them, numbers being 

 in that season found dead in the paths. The 

 antients believed them to be injurious to cattle, 

 an error now detected. 



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