. The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals;. Mammals. MOLE SHSEW.—-One of the most common species of Insect-Eating animals of the United States. Its short tail and its very small ears, hidden in the fur, are characteristic features. {Blarina trevicauda.) ling sound of high pitch, similar to that heard from the other members of the family. The most acute of its senses is undoubtedly that of smell. It often happens that Shrews caught alive, when let loose, run back into the trap, for the reason that the odor of the Shrew clings to it. It does not seem as if Shrews were guided by sight.
. The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals;. Mammals. MOLE SHSEW.—-One of the most common species of Insect-Eating animals of the United States. Its short tail and its very small ears, hidden in the fur, are characteristic features. {Blarina trevicauda.) ling sound of high pitch, similar to that heard from the other members of the family. The most acute of its senses is undoubtedly that of smell. It often happens that Shrews caught alive, when let loose, run back into the trap, for the reason that the odor of the Shrew clings to it. It does not seem as if Shrews were guided by sight. Their hearing must also be rather deficient; but their fine scent fur- nishes almost complete compensation for the defi- ciency of the other two senses. The Character of There are few other animals that are the Common possessed of so unsociable a dispo- Shrew. sition, or act so atrociously toward their own kind, as the Shrews; the Moles alone can be considered as a match for them in iniquity. Not even t|ie opposite sexes of the Shrews can live to- gether in peace, except during the breeding season. One Shrew will devour the other whenever oppor- tunity offers. Frequently these animals become en- gaged in combats so fierce that one can easily capture them. In fighting they interlock in close embrace and roll over the ground, their teeth fastened into each other with a fury worthy of the most ferocious Bulldog. It is fortunate that the Shrews are not so large as Lions: they would depopulate the earth and ultimately be reduced to starvation. Very rarely do Shrews live together in real peace. Cartrey once heard a continuous rustle and noise in some dry leaves, and discovered a multitude of these little creatures, which he estimated to number about one hundred; they seemed to play among themselves, running back and forth keeping up a constant chirp- ing and squeaking, without any apparent reason: perhaps it was nothing but a grand wedding. A female Shrew builds for her little ones
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1895
