HABITS OF THE COMMON MOLE.* 

 Scalopus aquaticus machrinits, (Rafinesque). 



F. A. HANAWALT 

 Department of Biology, Otterbein University 



In the United States there are five genera of moles, Scalopus, 

 Parascalops, and Condylura appear in the eastern portion; 

 Scapanus and Neurotrichus are found west of the Rockies. 

 Of these genera, Scalopus is most widely distributed and 

 consequently best known and most divided into species and 

 sub-species. Jackson, in "A Review of the American Moles," 

 has thirteen varieties of Scalopus listed and described along 

 with their geographical distribution. His work on moles is 

 notable and his analytical key gives an easy means of identifying 

 varieties, doing away with much of the confusion arising from 

 the same variety of mole appearing in various localities under 

 as many as twenty different names, the genera being confused 

 as well as the species. 



The mole upon which this paper is based is Scalopus 

 aquaticus machrinus (Rafinesque). The observations regarding 

 it will deal primarily with those points to which other writers 

 have given little or no attention, or points upon which I have 

 found conflicting statements. 



Moles are often said to be entirely insectivorous. This 

 statement, no doubt, is based upon dentition study, for the 

 study of the stomach contents will soon prove that moles are 

 rather omnivorous. It is commonly known that a large percent 

 of their food is made up of earthworms which they detect in 

 the soil through the use of the tactile hairs and the sensitive 

 nose. I have noticed that the motion of a wriggling worm 

 along the side of a mole will cause the latter to turn quickly 

 and press the worm down with the front feet and the head. 

 The mole then waits for further activity on the part of the 

 worm, apparently depending upon this to show just where it is. 

 If there is no further activity the mole turns its nose about in 

 an effort to locate the worm, presumably using the sense of 



* Part of a thesis offered in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the 

 degree of Master of Arts from Ohio State University. 



164 



