AMERICAN 
109 
marsh shrew. 
the ventral aspect ash coloured ; at the roots the hair is bluish-gray ; the 
outside of the thighs and upper surface of the tail correspond in colour 
with the back ; under surface of the tail, insides of thighs, and belly, 
greyish-white ; feet, paler than the back. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Length from point of nose to root of tail, - 
“ of tail, - - - - . . 
“ of head, 
“ from nose to eye, - 
Height of ear, - * 
Length of hind foot from heel to end of nails, 
Inches. Lines. 
- 3 6 
- 2 7 
- 1 2 
7 
3 
9 
HABITS. 
The habits of all Shrews (except those of the kind described by Shake- 
speare) must necessarily be little known. These animals are so minute in 
the scale of quadrupeds that they will always be overlooked, unless sought 
after with great zeal, and even then it is often difficult to meet with or 
procure them. It may be said that it is only by chance that one is seen 
and taken now and then, even where they are known to exist. We have 
not seen more than five or six alive during several years, although dead 
ones have been found by us more frequently, and upon one occasion we 
found two that appeared to have recently died, lying close to each other. 
No wonder, then, that they may escape the observation of the most perse- 
vering student of nature, as their instinctive caution would, by causing 
them either to fly to some little hole or tuft of grass, or to remain still, 
when danger was near, render their discovery more than doubtful ; or, if 
seen, it would be only for a moment. Not the least singular circumstance 
connected with the family of Shrews is the fact that they can exist in 
extremely cold climates, and move about in winter, when the snow covers 
the ground. In his article on Sorex ■ palustris Dr. Richardson says it 
“ most probably lives in the summer on similar food with the Water Shrew, 
but I am at a loss to imagine how it procures a subsistence during the six 
months of the year in which the countries it inhabits are covered with 
snow. It frequents borders of lakes, and Hearne tells us that it often 
takes up its abode in beaver houses.” 
W e might easily make some probable speculations as to the manners and 
customs of the present species, but prefer not doing so farther than to say 
that it very likely feeds on seeds, insects, and on the carcases of any small 
