M O U 
in the form of it's nofe, which is very long and 
flender. The teeth are twenty-eight in number, 
and of fo fingular a fliape, as to attraft the notice 
of every naturalifi:. Gcfncr feems to think that 
nature has formed the teeth of this animal of a 
mixed fliape between thofe of mice and ferpents. 
The two upper fore-teeth are extremely fharp, 
v/ith a kind of beard on each fide of them, re- 
fembling that of an arrow, fcarcely vlfible on a 
flight infpeflion ; while the other teeth are very 
fmall, and placed fo clofe together as hardly to 
appear feparated. The length of the whole 
Moufe, from the nofe to the tail, is about two 
inches and a half ; and that of the tail about one 
and a half : the ears are fhort and rounded ; the 
eyes are extremely fmall, and, like thofe of the 
mole, almoft concealed in the hair ; the colour 
of the head and back is a browniOi dufl<y red, 
that ef the belly being a dirty white ; the tail is 
covered with fhort duflcy hairs ; the legs are very 
fhort; and the feet are divided into five diftind 
toes. 
This little creature has a ftrong and peci>liar 
fmell, very difagreeable to thofe cats which purfue 
and kill, but never eat it; and it is probably this 
ungrateful odour, together with the reluctance of 
the cats, which have given rife to the vulgar pre- 
i'idice, tliat the bite of the Shrcw-Moufe is ve- 
nomous, and particularly injurious to horfes. But 
the Shrew is in fi6l not poifonous; nor is it ca- 
pable of biting ; for the aperture of it's mouth is 
not lar.o-e enouo;h to admit a duplicature of the 
flvin of another animal, which is ablolutely ne- 
ceill\ry to the aftion of biting. The difeafe of 
horfes, vulgarly afcribed to the bite of the Shrew- 
Moufe, is a fwelling or blotch; and proceeds 
from an internal caufe, which has not the fmalkll: 
relation to a bite. 
Tills animal, efpecially in winter, vifits hay- 
lofts, ftables, barns, and dunghills, feeding on 
grain, infefts, and putrid flefh ; and, in the coun- 
try, it frequents woods, and lives on grain. It 
conceals itfelf under mofs, leaves, and trunks of 
trees; and fometimes in the holes abandoned by 
moles, or in fmall cavities, which it digs with it's 
muzzle and claws. 
The Shrew produces an equal number of young, 
though lefs frequently, than the Moufe: it's cry 
is much fiiarper, but it is not nearly fo agile; 
and it is eafify caught, becaufe both it's fight and 
it's celerity are unfavourable in afTifting it's 
efcape. It is a native of Europe; very harmlefs; 
and may be confidered rather as friendly than 
inimical to mankind. 
Mouse, Shrew, Water. This creature has 
a long flender nofe; minute ears; and very fmall 
eyes, almoft loft in the fur. The colour of the 
head and the upper part of the body is black ; 
the throat, breaft, and belly, are of a light alh- 
colour; and beneath the tail there is a triangular 
dufliy fpot. 
The Water Shrew is much larger than the 
common Shrew, the body being three inches and 
three quarters long, and the tail two inches. It 
burrows in banks near the water-fide; and inha- 
bits Europe, and Siberia as far as the river 
Jenefei. It was formerly well known in Eng- 
land, but loft for a confiderable time, till acci- 
dentally difcovered in the fens near Revefby- 
Abbey, in Eincolnfliire, in 1768. It is called 
the Fen-Moufe by the farmers; and is at prefent 
rarely to be met with. 
M O U 
Mouse, Shrew, Minute; the Sorex Minu-' 
tus of Linnseus; who aflerts that it is the finalleft ' 
of all quadrupeds. It has minute eyes; a very 
flender nofe ; broad, fliort, naked ears; and wJiil- 
kers reaching to the eyes: it's hair, which is 
very fine and glofliy, is grey above, and white 
beneath; it's head is almoft as large as it's body; 
and it has no tail. 
This fpecies, which inhabits Siberia, lives in 
moift places beneath the roots of trees, and feeds 
principally on feeds. It burrows, runs with great 
fwiftnefs, and has a voice refemblingthatof the bat. 
Mouse, Shrew, Musky; the Caftor Muf- 
chatus of Linnaeus. This creature has a long 
flender nofe, very fmall eyes, a tail comprefl:ed 
fideways, and no external ears. The head and 
back are of a duflcy colour; the belly is of a 
whitifh afli-colour; and the length of the body, 
from the nofe to the tail, is feven inches, and the 
tail eight. 
The Mufl<y Shrew Moufe which frequents 
the banks of lakes and rivers from Novogrod 
to Saratof, never wanders far from the place of 
it's ufual refidence; is flow in it's motions; forms 
holes in the cliffs, with the entrance far beneath 
the loweft fail of the water; works upwards, but 
never to the furface; and feeds on fifti. It is 
devoured by the pikes and filuri; and communi- 
cates to thofe fifh fuch a ftrong flavour of muflc, 
as to render them unfit for the table. A fort of 
muflc, very much refembling the genuine kind, 
is found under the tail of this animal; and it's 
flcin is put amongft cloaths to drive away moths, 
and to preferve their wearers from peftilence and 
fevers. 
Mouse, Shrew, Mexican. This animal has 
a fliarp nofe; fmall round ears; two long fore- 
teeth above and belov/; and feems to be entirely 
blind. It's body, which is about nine inches 
long, is thick, fat, and flefh y ; it's legs are fo 
fliort, that it's belly almoft touches the ground; 
and it has long crooked claws, tawny hair, and a 
fhort tail. 
It is a native of Mexico, where it burrows, 
and makes fuch a number of holes, that travel- 
lers, in fome places, cannot tread with fafety. 
If it quits it's hole, it is incapable of finding it's 
way back again, and immediately digs another. 
It grows very fat, feeds on roots and feeds, and 
is deemed proper for food. 
Mouse, Shrew, Murine; the Sorex Mu-. 
rinus of Linnaeus. This fpecies, which inhabits 
Java, has a long nofe, round naked ears, and 
long hairs about the whifkers. It is nearly of 
the fize of the common Moufe; and it's body 
is cinereous. 
Mouse, Shrew, Brazilian; the Mus Ara- 
neus Figura Muris of Marcgrave. This animal 
has a fharp nofe and teeth; the body is of a 
duflcy colour, marked along the back with three 
broad black ftrokes, and about five inches long ; 
and the tail is two inches in length. 
It is a bold creature, neither fearing nor avoid- 
ing cats, which never hunt after it, as is ufual 
with the kind. 
Mouse, Shrew, Perfuming; the Mus Pri- 
bonides of Pallas. This animal inhabits Java, and 
other Eaft Indian iflands. It's length, from the nofe 
to the tail, is nearly eight inches; and the tail 
itfelf is three inches and a half : the hair, which 
is fhort and clofe, is a fine pale cerulean on the 
head and body, but lighter on the belly. 
