The New Student's Reference Work/Shrew

COMMON SHREW

Shrew, an insect-eating animal having the general appearance of a mouse, but belonging to quite a different order. The mice are gnawers, the shrews are insect-eaters and related to the moles. They have a sharp, pointed snout and jaws with numerous, sharp teeth. The eyes and ears are minute. They come out occasionally from their burrows, but seem very helpless above ground, and are exceedingly shy. They feed both day and night. They do not burrow deeply, their holes being under roots and in logs. They inhabit the Old and New Worlds, living in fields and open woods. Besides insects they eat worms and mollusks. Water-shrews exist also in North America and in Europe.