SCALOPS AQUATIC U.S. l5g 



" Our kind friend, J. S. Haincs, P^sq., of Germantown, near Phila- 

 delphia, informed us that he once kept several Shrew Moles in con- 

 finement for the purpose of investigating their habits, and that having 

 been neglected for a few days, the strongest of them killed and ate 

 up the others ; they also devoured raw meat, especially beef, with 

 great avidity." 



Explanation of Erroneous Notions Concerning' the Food of the Mole. 



It is unfortunate (for the Mole, at any rate) that the farmers and 

 gardeners still cling to the mistaken notion that the Mole eats the 

 roots of vegetables and other plants. In support of this view they 

 affirm that they have followed the galleries of these animals along- 

 rows of garden plants and have found some of the roots gnawed 

 entirely off, and others more or less injured. Granted ; but this is 

 circumstantial and presumptive evidence only, and is negatived 

 by the facts hereinafter related. The truth of the matter is this : 

 The Mole follows the row of plants in order to obtain the insects 

 that gather in the rich soil about their roots, and doubtless occasion- 

 ally injures a few by loosening the earth around them, or possibly 

 even by scratching them in his efforts to procure the grubs. 



Presently a field mouse (Arvicola) comes along and discovers the 

 gallery of the Mole. It is just the right size, or perhaps a trifle large, 

 so he enters without delay and is delighted to find that it leads 

 directly to his favorite articles of diet, the roots of garden vegetables. 

 It is this abundant and destructive pest that does the mischief, while 

 the poor Mole gets the credit of it, and very likely loses his head in 

 consequence. 



As bearing upon this subject I quote from the pen of Samuel 

 Woodruff, Esq., some evidence that may fairly be regarded as con- 

 clusive. Mr. Woodruff commences by stating that he had always 

 supposed the Mole to be herbivorous, and now that the contrary had 

 been asserted, determined to prove the matter by actual experiment, 



* Ibid., p. 90. 



