A man . . . grudgeth that shrews [i. e., bad men]
have prosperity, or else that good men have
adversity. --Chaucer.
A man had got a shrew to his wife, and there could
be no quiet in the house for her. --L'Estrange.
2. [AS. scre['a]wa; -- so called because supposed to be
venomous. ] (Zo["o]l.) Any small insectivore of the genus
{Sorex} and several allied genera of the family
{Sorecid[ae]}. In form and color they resemble mice, but
they have a longer and more pointed nose. Some of them are
the smallest of all mammals.
Note: The common European species are the house shrew
({Crocidura araneus}), and the erd shrew ({Sorex
vulgaris}) (see under {Erd}.). In the United States
several species of {Sorex} and {Blarina} are common, as
the broadnosed shrew ({S. platyrhinus}), Cooper's shrew
({S. Cooperi}), and the short-tailed, or mole, shrew
({Blarina brevicauda}). Th American water, or marsh,
shrew ({Neosorex palustris}), with fringed feet, is
less common. The common European water shrews are
{Crossopus fodiens}, and the oared shrew (see under
{Oared}).
{Earth shrew}, any shrewlike burrowing animal of the family
{Centetid[ae]}, as the tendrac.
{Elephant shrew}, {Jumping shrew}, {Mole shrew}. See under
{Elephant}, {Jumping}, etc.
{River shrew}, an aquatic West African insectivore
({Potamogale velox}) resembling a weasel in form and size,
but having a large flattened and crested tail adapted for
rapid swimming. It feeds on fishes.
{Shrew mole}, a common large North American mole ({Scalops
aquaticus}). Its fine, soft fur is gray with iridescent
purple tints.