ACTIVITY OF THE SHORT-TAILED SHREW

Abstract

The 24-hour activity of Blarina brevicauda talpoides was recorded by means of tilting activity cages with the food and water placed (i) at the end farthest from the nest box and (ii) in the nest box. The shrews were active on the average less than 10% of the time, although considerable variation occurred both within and between individuals. Activity continued throughout the 24 hours with marked disturbances in late afternoon and early morning, associated with the feeding times. In individual daily records the activity often appeared in a series of short bursts. The average length of the bursts was 49 minutes and of the intervals between them 99 minutes. Changing the position of the food and water had little effect upon the 24-hour pattern.