16 
ANIMALS OP NORTH AMERICA. 
ings, fences, and stone walls, and occasionally it finds its way 
into cellars, where, if there is a shallow vessel containing 
water or milk, it will be sure to terminate its existence from 
its inability to escape, through clumsiness. All this family 
pass their winters in a state of torpidity. 
The Shrew Mouse ( Sorex ) is remarkable for its diminutive 
size and apparent helplessness, rarely showing itself by day. 
Measuring only 2| to 5 inches, it may properly be considered 
the smallest mammiferous animal belonging to this continent. 
Although cats will destroy these little creatures with as great 
eagerness as they do mice, it is a well-ascertained fact that 
they will never devour them, probably from the strong musky 
smell they emit. They frequent the long grass in orchards, 
and the outskirts of gardens. 
There are several species, viz : 
Sorex Dekayi, dark slate blue, 5 to 6 inches long. Not 
common. 
S. brevicaudus, the short tail shrew, furlong, head large, 
color blackish lead, length 4 inches, very rare. 
S. Parvus, brownish ash color, feet flesh-colored, length 
2 J to 3 inches. 
S. Carolinensis, iron gray, 4 inches in length, very little 
known. 
