. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE WATER at the side. In this nest are produced the young Shrews, from five to seven in number, and, as may be imagined, extremely diminutive in size. They are generally born in the spring. The total length of the adult Shrew is not quite four inches, of which the tail occupies very nearly the moiety. Similar to the Erd Shrew in general aspect, but easily to be distinguished from that animal by its colour and other peculiarities, the Water Shrew stands next on our list. The fur of the Water Shrew is nearly black upon the upper portions of the b
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE WATER at the side. In this nest are produced the young Shrews, from five to seven in number, and, as may be imagined, extremely diminutive in size. They are generally born in the spring. The total length of the adult Shrew is not quite four inches, of which the tail occupies very nearly the moiety. Similar to the Erd Shrew in general aspect, but easily to be distinguished from that animal by its colour and other peculiarities, the Water Shrew stands next on our list. The fur of the Water Shrew is nearly black upon the upper portions of the body, instead of the reddish brown colour which tints the fur of the Erd Shrew. The under parts of the body are beautifully white, and the line of demarcation between the two colours is very distinctly drawn. The fur is very soft and silken in texture, and, when the animal is submerged under the surface of the water, possesses the useful property of repelling moisture, and preserving the body of the animal from the injurious effects of the water. When the Water Shrew is engaged in swimming, those parts of the fur which are submerged below the sur- face appear to be studded with an infinite number of tiny silvern bead- lets, that give to the whole animal a very singular aspect. This pheno- menon is produced by the minute air-bubbles that cling to the fur, and which exude from the space that is left between the hairs. In fact, the Shrew Mouse, when immersed, bears a curious resemblance to the well- known Water Spider. A further distinction, and one which is more valuable than that which is furnished by the colour of the fur, is the fringe of stiff white hairs which edges the tail and the toes. In all its movements the Water Shrew is extremely graceful and active, displaying equal agility, whether its movements be terrestrial or aquatic. I have repeatedly observed the proceedings of a little colony of these animals, and was able to sit within a yard or two of their haunts, without
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
