90 BE VISION OF AMEB WAX MOLES— TRUE. vol.xix. 



has two equally liigli and prominent central cusps, instead of one. 

 The tooth on the right side of the mandible is normal. 



Ill several specimens the minute second upper incisor, or the third 

 lower one, is absent on one or both sides, but unless the skull is in the 

 best condition for study, it is extremely difficult to determine whether 

 these teeth have merely fallen out, or whether they were absent from 

 the lirst. 



MOLTING. 



The series of skins of the star-nosed mole obtained by Mr. Bangs at 

 Belmont, jMassachusetts, between October G and October 8, show that 

 molting was then in i^rogress. A male taken October 8 has the summer 

 fur still in ])lace all over the body, but new fnr is concealed on all the 

 upper surfaces. In another male taken at the same date the new fur 

 has appeared on the head and rump and also on the throat, and is 

 springing up all over the back, though still concealed. On the lower 

 surfaces, except the throat, the summer fur still holds place. In still 

 another specimen taken at the same date the condition of the new fur 

 on the back is the same as in the last specimen, while on the lower sur- 

 faces the new fur has appeared everywhere except on the throat and 

 legs. Two males taken October G and October 7, respectively, are about 

 in the condition of the second specimen mentioned above. 



The change is carried to its completion in Mr. Bangs's series from 

 Digby, I^ova Scotia. In specimens taken from October 10 to October 

 21 the upper surfaces are all covered by new fur, while the lower sur- 

 faces all have the summer fur, with the new concealed under it. In 

 males taken October 27 and October 30 the change is complete and all 

 summer fur has disappeared. 



From these specimens we learn that the winter fur of this mole first 

 appears on the surface about October G, (in the North), completing its 

 growth first on the head and rump, then on the back, and finally on the 

 belly. Exactly when the new fur first begins to sprout is uncertain, 

 but must be earlier than September 19, as a specimen taken at Cape 

 Edward on that date has new fur concealed under the old. The rate 

 of growth on the different parts of the body is not always the same. 



As regards the change from winter to summer fur, it appears from 

 Mr. Bangs's series that in I^ova Scotia the males have completed it 

 before July 18. The females, as in other species, retain the winter fur 

 longer. One taken at Bigby July 25 still has irregular patches of 

 winter fur across the back. A female taken July 31 has the complete 

 summer coat. 



AGE CHARACTERS. 



Young star-nosed moles are much redder than adults. The fur about 

 the mouth and on the feet is also of a reddish-brown color, while in 

 adults it is usually whitish. The tail is also slender in the young. 



Besides the ordinary obliteration of sutures, a sign of maturity in 



i 



