16 The Animal-Lore of ShaJcspeare’s Time . 
chapter of Leviticus, is diversely interpreted by the translators, some 
call it a reptile beast which alwaies cryeth: some a reptile-flying 
beast, some a horse-leach, or blond-sucker, some a hedghog, and some 
a beaver, as we have shewed before in the hedghog. But the Septua- 
gints translate it mygale , and S. Jerom mus araneus, that is, a shrew. 
The Hollanders call it moll musse, because it resembleth a mole. . . . 
And concerning the description of this beast, it may be taken from the 
words of an auncient English phisition, called doctor William Turner. 
I have seene, saith he, in England, the shrew-mouse of colour blacke, 
having a taile very short, and her snout very long and sharp, and from 
the venomous biting of this beast, we have an English proverb or 
imprecation, I beshrow thee, when we curse or wish harm unto any 
man, that is, that some such evil as the biting of this mouse may 
come upon him. ... It is a ravening beast, feynging it selfe to be 
gentle and tame, but being touched it biteth deepe, and poisoneth 
deadly. It beareth a cruell minde, desiring to hurt any thing, neither 
is there any creature that it loveth, or it loveth him, because it is 
feared of all. The cats as we have saide do hunt it and kill it, but 
they eat not them, for if they do they consume away in time.” 
(Historie of Foure-Footed Beasts , pp. 534-536.) 
The character here attributed to this harmless little 
animal is not unlike that bestowed by the old chroniclers 
upon Bichard III. It is quite undeserved by the British 
shrew, which feeds only on insects and grain. Some 
European varieties are more destructive, and will even eat 
small birds if opportunities offer. 
