33° 
INSECT! VO RES. 
3 inches in length, exclusive of the tail. This shrew frequents cultivated 
grounds in Europe, not unfrequent]y entering houses; and preys on insects, worms, 
and the young of the smaller mammals and birds. The young are born in summer, 
and vary from five to as many as ten in number. 
The common musk-shrew ( C. . suaveolens), of which a figure is given on p. 329, is 
the second representative of the genus Crocidura in Europe. It belongs to a group 
characterised by the presence of four small conical teeth, of which the hindmost is 
very minute, behind the first upper incisor tooth. 1 This group, which is numerously 
represented in India, includes the largest of all shrews, and those most strongly 
scented with the characteristic musky odour. The best known, and at the same 
time the largest, of these Indian species are the brown musk-shrew (C. murina), and 
the grey musk-shrew, (G. coerideci), the latter of which is commonly termed by Anglo- 
Indians the musk-rat. Both these species have nine teeth on each side of the upper 
jaw, and their length may be as much as 6 inches exclusive of the tail. Whereas 
the hair of the former is of a brownish tinge on the body and feet, in the latter it 
is more of a slaty hue; while the feet are flesh-coloured or yellowish-white. In 
other respects these two shrews are very closely allied, but whereas the brown 
musk-shrew is found as a rule in woods (although it will occasionally enter 
buildings), the grey musk-shrew generally, if not invariably, haunts human habita¬ 
tions. It has accordingly been suggested that the latter is merely a peculiar 
variety of the former. The grey musk-shrew is nocturnal, and is a common visitor 
to Indian houses. During the day it lies concealed in holes and drains, issuing 
forth at night to hunt over the floors of rooms for cockroaches and other insects; 
while thus engaged it utters from time to time a short, sharp squeak. In respect 
of its insect-eating habits, this musk-shrew is a benefactor to mankind; but these 
benefits are accompanied by the drawback that various articles may be so impreg¬ 
nated with the musky secretion of the animal as to become utterly useless. There 
has, however, been much exaggeration as to the penetrating power of this scent, the 
well-known but absurd story that wine or beer becomes impregnated with a musky 
flavour from the circumstance of one of these shrews having run over the outside 
of the bottle containing such liquor, being a case in point. In addition to its 
favourite cockroaches and other insects, the grey musk-shrew will also readily 
devour meat, and accounts are on record of an attack made by one of these animals 
on a frog, and by another on a snake. 
Other Indian musk-shrews belonging to the same group of the genus, such as 
Blyth’s musk-shrew ( C. f aliginosa ) have but eight teeth on each side of the upper 
jaw, or the same number as in the European spider musk-shrew ( C. aranea ). 
The Burrowing Shrews. 
Genus Anurosorex. 
The burrowing shrews are small mole-like creatures, inhabiting Tibet, Western 
China, and Assam, where they are apparently very rare. They are characterised 
by their large heads, minute eyes, the absence of ear-conchs, a very short tail, and 
1 In the figure of the jaw of a true shrew (Sorex) on p. 323 there are five of these small teeth. 
