Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 36.djvu/685

Rh The water shrew is much like the erd shrew in general appearance, but its fur is nearly black on the upper parts of the body, instead of the reddish-brown color which marks its relative. On the under parts its fur is beautifully white. The fur is very silky and has the useful property of repelling water. When swimming, the parts of the body which are submerged appear to be sprinkled with tiny silver beads, which give the animal a very brilliant appearance. This phenomenon is due to air-bubbles that cling to the fur. Water shrews are fond of pools and streams that are pretty well open to the sunlight.

The following account of them is given by the writer in "Longman's," already quoted: "See these water shrews, how they chase one another in the pool! Out of the water their fur is black and soft, but under it a thousand air-bubbles clothe them round till they flash like silver fishes in the sun. In and out of the weeds they swim, picking off the fresh-water shrimps from under the leaves. No sea otter is more at home under the water than they. Yet are their feet not webbed, but only fringed about with stiff white hairs. Instead of swimming with the direct motion of the water rat, the water shrew appears to move alternately both its feet on either side. Unlike the common shrew, which rears its young near the surface of the ground, often in the old nest of a field mouse, the water shrew nests in holes under the bank. It generally, I think always, appropriates some existing hole, which it no doubt improves to. its liking."



Besides catching aquatic insects, the water shrew roots out larvae from the muddy banks with its long snout, and does not hesitate to eat moths and other like insects which fall into the water and drown. The ears of this creature are peculiarly adapted to prevent the entrance of water. When it goes beneath the surface, the pressure of the water folds together three small valves, which effectually close the opening of the ear. "The total length of the water shrew is not quite four inches and a half, the length