462 F£TID,WATER, AND MINUTE SHREW, 
Fetid shrew. 
The fetid shrew has its eyes small, and almost 
hid in its far ; its head, and the upper part of its 
body are of a brownish red ; its belly of a dirty 
white ; it is only two inches and a half long ; its 
tail one and a half; it inhabits most parts of 
Europe, Siberia, and even the Arctic flats, and 
Kamtschatka ; it is also found about the Caspian 
sea ; lives in old walls, heaps of stones, or holes in 
the earth ; feeds on corn, insects, or any filth, and 
has a disagreeable smell ; cats will kill, but not 
eat it : it brings four or five young at a time. 
There seems to be an annual mortality of these ani- 
mals in August, numbers of them being then found 
dead in the paths. 
Water shrew. 
The water shrew has, like the rest, a long 
slender nose ; very minute ears, and within each, 
a tuft of white hairs, very small eyes hid in the fur. 
The colour of the upper part of its body is black ; 
its throat, breast, and belly, are of a light ash- 
colour ; the feet arc white ; it has a triangular 
dusky spot beneath the tail ; it is three inches and 
three quarters long ; its tail two. 
It inhabits various parts of Europe and Siberia, 
as far as the rivej: Jenesay ; burrows in the banks 
of rivers ; is said to swim under water ; and chir- 
rups like a grasshopper. 
Minute shrew. 
The head of the minute shrew is near as big as 
the body ; its whiskers reach to its eyes, which are 
very small, and capable of being drawn in ; its 
