97 
Specimens 817-8 in the Smithsonian Institution were collected by Dr. 
Kirtland, at Cleveland, Ohio, and 2,140-3 by E. Newton, at Salem, Ohio. 
(Blarina talpoides, Baird, Mamm. N. A., 1857, 42.) 
History and Habits.—This is the largest, or one of the largest American 
Shrews; it is active and strong; the snout and head are powerful, and 
apparently much used in burrowing. It does not burrow under the 
ground continuously, as does the Mole, but passes along under the grass 
or leaves, seeking its food, occasionally inclining downwards under the 
soil, for a foot er more, and then coming to the surface. It does not dig 
out the earth, but presses it aside, descending beneath obstructions that 
come in its way, rather than going around them. This is the most 
abundant of our Shrews, abounding both in woods, meadows, and prairies. 
In some large areas it is impossible to find a foot-square not crossed by 
the net-work of well beaten, leaf-covered galleries made by this Shrew 
in its search for slugs, earth-worms, and the like. They are difficult to 
get, escaping quickly when once unearthed. They are found at any 
season lying dead on the earth, left uneaten by birds or carnivorous 
beasts on account of the disagreeable odor emitted from the body glands. 
Its traces are not found in swamps or sloughs; it prefers high ground, 
and is in no sense aquatic. It it active in the coldest weather in winter, 
like others of the family in the north. From Mr. Kennicott’s interest- 
ing notes on the habits of this species in confinement, I quote the fol- 
lowing: 
‘‘ While alive, the minute black eye is distinctly seen, and always open; but, though 
the sense of sight may be possessed in the dark, it certainly is not used in the full light. 
Upon waving different objects before one, or thrusting my finger or a stick close to its 
face, no notice was taken of it whatever; but if I made any noise near by, it always 
_ started. If the floor were struck, or even the air disturbed, it would start back from 
that direction. I observed no indication that an acute sense of smell enabled it to 
recognize objects at any considerable distance, but its hearing was remarkable. An ex- 
ceedingly delicate sense of touch was exhibited by the whiskers, and if, after irritating 
a Shrew, I placed a stick against it in even the most gentle manner, the animal would 
instantly spring atit. I could see that in running along the floor it stopped the moment 
its whiskers touched anything; and, often when at full speed, if would turn aside just 
before reaching an object against which it seemed about to strike, and which it certainly 
had not seen. Unless enraged by being teased, it endeavored to smell every new object 
with which its whiskers came in contact, turning its long flexible snout with great fa- 
cility for this purpose. My caged specimens, both male and female, exhibited great 
pugnacity. When I touched one several times with a stick, it would become.much en- 
raged, snapping and crying out angrily. When attacked by a Meadow Mouse confined 
in a cage with it, one fought fiercely; and though it did not pursue its adversary when 
the latter moved off, neither did it ever retreat; but the instant the Mouse came close, 
it sprang at him, apparently not guided in the least by sight. It kept its nose and 
- whiskers constantly moving from side to side, and often sprang forward with an angry 
ery, when the mouse was not near, as if deceived in thinking it had heard or felt a 
