142 
ORIGIN OF LIFE IN AMERICA 
order is that of the Insectivora or insect-eaters. They are 
distinguished externally by their small size and soft dense 
fur, while many of them are adapted for an underground life 
and possess specially modified front limbs for the purpose 
of digging. 
Five different genera of moles (Talpidae) are known from 
North America, and three of these are restricted in distribu¬ 
tion to the eastern States. One of them, containing but a 
single species, the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata), has 
its headquarters in the north-eastern States, extending north¬ 
ward as far as Hudson Bay, and southward to North Carolina 
(Fig. 9). The name was given to it from the fact that a 
ring of riband-like appendages surrounds the end of the 
muzzle, in the middle of which are situated the nostrils. Like 
its European relative(Talpa europaea), it constructs extensive 
galleries underground, throwing up a ridge of loose earth 
along the line of the tunnels. No fossil remains of the star¬ 
nosed mole having ever been discovered, palaeontology 
furnishes no evidence as to its past history, and we must 
assume that it has originated in north-eastern North America. 
What is often known as the common mole (Scalops 
aquaticus) in the States, is no near relation of the European 
species of that description. It is more appropriately called 
naked-tailed mole. The Latin name aquaticus was given to 
it because its webbed hind-feet led to the inference that it 
must be a water animal, whereas it actually lives underground 
in dry sandy soil. Two species of Scalops are known, one of 
them occurs from Massachusetts to Florida, the other further 
west, in the Indian Territory. 
Still another eastern species is the so-called hairy-tailed 
mole (Rarascalops breweri), whose habits are very similar 
to those of the other moles, though it is readily distinguished 
from them by its thickly-haired black tail. Its range extends 
along the Atlantic coast, from New Brunswick in the north 
to North Carolina in the south, and inland to the shores of 
the Great Lakes. It is even said to occur on Martha’s Vine¬ 
yard Island off the coast of Massachusetts, which locality is 
of interest in connection with the view expressed above as 
to this island having formed part of an ancient land surface 
now partially submerged. 
