424 
THE STORY OF THE SHREW. 
ears, and their long tails. The red-toothed shrews are quite unknown in 
Africa south of the Sahara, and they are only represented in India and the rest 
of the Oriental region by a single variety. 
The common shrew, found abundantly in the British Islands, measures 
just short of three inches in length, exclusive of the tail, and is usually of a 
reddish mouse-color, paler beneath, with the tail rather shorter than the body. 
There is, however, considerable individual variation in color, specimens being 
sometimes found banded with white. Its food is insects, worms, snails and 
slugs. 
Shrews are so given to fighting that two are rarely seen together except 
when in a fight, and if two* or more are confined together, the strongest will 
soon kill the others. 
The strong scent of the shrew serves to protect it against many foes, but 
it is not strong enough to disgust the owl, which bird kills and devours 
shrews with great relish. A cat will kill a shrew but will not eat it. 
The varieties of shrews found in the United States are among the smallest 
members of the family. They spend less time underground, but when they 
move about on the surface they always seek the cover of fallen leaves and 
twigs. 
The naturalist knows that however cautiously he may move his footsteps 
put to flight many forms of life that will reappear as soon as quiet is restored; 
therefore he often waits and watches and stops to listen and observe. While 
thus occupied, it sometimes happens that a slight rustling reaches his ears. 
There is no wind, but his eyes rest upon a fallen leaf that seems to« move. 
Presently another stirs, and perhaps a third turns completely over. Then 
something like the shadow of an embryo* mouse appears and vanishes before 
the eye can catch its perfect image. Anon the restless phantom flits across 
an open space, leaving no* trace behind. But a charge of fine shot dropped with 
quick aim upon the next leaf that moves will usually solve the mystery. The 
author of the perplexing commotion is found to 1 be a curious sharp-nosed 
creature, no* bigger than one’s little finger, and weighing hardly more than 
half a drachm. Its ceaseless activity, and the rapidity with which it darts 
from place to* place, are truly astonishing, and rarely permit the observer a 
correct impression of its form. Whenever a tree or a large limb falls to the 
ground these shrews soon find it, examining every part with great care, and 
if a knot-hole or crevice* is detected, leading to- a cavity within, they are 
pretty sure to enter, carry in materials for a nest, and take formal possession. 
Not only are these agile and restless little shrews voracious and almost insati- 
