ERD SHREW AND SONDELI. 
347 
This animal is a native of various parts of India, and is very well known on account of the 
extremely powerful scent which exudes from certain glands that are situated in the under 
parts of the body and on the flanks. 
The odoriferous substance, which is secreted by the above-mentioned glands, is of a 
musky nature, and possesses the property of penetrating and adhering to every substance over 
which the Musk-Rat has passed. The musky odor clings so pertinaciously to the objects 
which are impregnated with its tainting contact, that in many cases they become entirely 
useless. Provisions of all kinds are frequently spoiled by the evil odor with which they are 
saturated ; and of so penetrating a nature is the musky scent, that the combined powers of 
glass and cork are unable to preserve the contents of bottles from its unpleasant influence. 
Let but a Sondeli run over a bottle of wine, and the contained liquid will be so powerfully 
scented with a musky savor that it will be rendered unfit for civilized palates, and must be 
ERD SHREW .— Corsira vulgaris. SONDELI .— Sorex murinus. 
removed from the neighborhood of other wines, lest the contaminating influence should extend 
to them also. 
In color it is not unlike the common shrew, having a slight chestnut, or reddish tinge, 
upon a mouse-colored ground, fading into gray on the under parts of the body. In size, 
however, it is much the superior of that animal ; being nearly as large as the common brown or 
“Hanoverian ” rat. The hair is very short, and the peculiar reddish-brown hue of the fur is 
caused by the different tintings of the upper and under fur. 
During the autumnal months of the year, the country roads and by-paths are frequently 
rendered remarkable by the presence of little mouse -like animals, with long snouts and 
peculiarly squared tails, that lie dead upon the ground, without mark of external injury to 
account for the manner of their decease. 
There are probably many other such corpses upon the wide and grassy meadow lands, but, 
owing to the nature of the ground, they are not so conspicuous as those upon the smoothly 
trodden paths. The presence of these deceased creatures is the more remarkable, because 
there are so many predatory animals and birds, such as cats, weasels, stoats, owls, and hawks, 
which would be very likely to kill such small prey, but, having slain them, would be almost 
sure to eat them. These unsepultured remains are the bodies of the Shrew-mouse of England, 
otherwise known by the name of Erd Shrew. Another title by which this little animal is 
known, in some parts of England, is the Fetid Shrew ; a name which has been given to it on 
