THE BEHAVIOR OF LICKING THE EVERTED RECTUM IN SHREWS (SORICIDAE, INSECTIVORA)

The behaviour of licking the everted rectum in shrews, hitherto referr ed to as ''coprophagy'' or ''refection'' is reviewed. To avoid confusi on with ''true'' faeces-eating, it is proposed to persistently use the descriptive term ''rectum-licking'' when referring to this phenomenon . The behaviour is characterized by the animal everting the rectum by a series of abdominal contractions and licking it in a curled-up postu re, apparently ingesting a yet undetermined substance often described as a ''milky white fluid''. This behaviour has been reported repeatedl y, but most previous observations are only fragmentary and the account s on the generality, frequency, rhythm, timing, mechanism, and functio ns of the behaviour are not all consistent. Rectum licking is certainl y an infrequent and elusive behaviour, which can be mistaken for other behaviours that share the same curled-up posture. Further studies are required to elucidate this behaviour.