534 
WATER SHREW. 
there can scarce remain a doubt as to the identity 
of the species. It inhabits fields, but is said some- 
times to come into houses. It is found in the 
East-Indian islands, as well as in India, occurring 
in Java, &c. &c. and is said to feed chiefly on 
rice. . 
WATER SHREW. 
Sorex Fodiens. S. supra niger, subtus albus. 
Black Shrew, white beneath. 
S. Cauda mediocri subnuda, corpore nigricante subtus cinereo, digitis 
ciliatis. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p, 113. 
Musaraneus dorso nigro ventreque albo. Merret. pin. p. 16'j. 
Sorex Bicolor. Water Shrew. Naturalist^ s Miscellany, pL 
Water Shrew. Pemiant Quadr. 2. p. 225. 
Musaraigne d'eau. JBm^. 8. p. 6^. pi. 11 -Jig. i. 
This species is considerably larger than the 
common Shrew, measuring three inches and three 
quarters in length, from nose to tail, and the tail 
two inches. Its colour is black on the upper 
parts, and white or of a very pale ash- colour on 
the throat, breast, and belly : the feet are white, 
and beneath the tail is a triangular dusky spot : 
the nose is long and slender, and the ears very 
small. It inhabits various parts of Europe and 
Asia, and is chiefly found near the banks of ri- 
vers, in which it burrows, and is instantly distin- 
guishable from the common Shrew by its colour 
as well as size. It is said to have a kind of 
chirping note, like that of a grasshopper. It 
breeds in spring, and produces eight or nine at 
