THE WATER SHREW MOUSE. 



Generic Characters. 

 Two cutting teeth in each jaw, pointing forward. 

 Nofe long and flender : ears fmall. 

 Five toes on each foot. 



Synonims. 



Mus Araneus Dorso nigro, Ventreque alco, Merret Pinax. 157. 

 Sorex fodiens, Pallas. 



La Musaraigne d'Eau, de Buffon, viii. 64. tab. id. 

 Water Shrew Mouse, Brit. Zool. illufl. tab. cii. 



THIS fpecies is confiderably larger than the Shrew Moufe : it meafures 

 three inches and three quarters, from the extremity of the nofe to the infertion 

 of the tail, which is two inches in length. Its nofe is long and flender; its 

 ears and eyes are very fmall, and both are nearly concealed in the fur ; the 

 colour of the head and upper parts of the body is a very dark brown, 

 approaching nearly to black ; the throat, breaft, and belly, are of a light 

 aftl-colour : beneath the tail is a dulky, triangular fpot. 



This animal frequents the banks of rivulets and marflry places, where it 

 lives in burrows, in which it makes its neft. It is met with in moil parts of 

 Europe. Mr. Pennant fays it has been long known in England, but was 

 loft till May, 1768, when it was again difcovered in the fens near Revefly 

 Abbey, Lincolnmire. The fen-men call it the Blind Moufe. 



Do&or Pallas difcovered it at Berlin, where it is called Groeber, or the 

 Digger. 



