on the under side — a black speck between the skin and the skin 

 muscles. It is not within the bony orbit of the skull, but outside and 

 in front of it. Microscopic examination reveals an opening through 

 the skin over the eye, but it is difficult to find without a lens. The 

 eye itself, though containing rudiments of the essential parts of the 

 nonnal mammalian eye, is so degenerate that distinct vision is im- 

 possible, and at most it can only serve to distinguish light from 

 darkness. 



Owing to the fact that the shoulder bones and the attachment of 

 the fore limbs are so far forward of the usual position, the external 

 opening of the ear appears to be on the shoulder, though in reality it 

 is not misplaced with reference to the skull. There is no true pinna 

 or external ear, but the external auditory meatus is prolonged beyond 

 the head a few millimeters by a cartilaginous tube. Between the eye 

 and the ear is a protuberance containing vibrissse, and probably func- 

 tioning as an organ of touch. 



The mole has thirty-six teeth. In each upper jaw there are three 

 incisors, one canine, three premolars, and three molars. In the lower 

 jaw there are two incisors, no canine, three premolars, and three 

 molars. The two middle incisors in the upper jaw are large and seem 

 to resemble those of the jat and other rodents at first sight, but they 

 differ greatly in structure, having enamel on all sides, instead of only 

 in front like the rodents. The second and third incisors are small 

 and often missing. In the lower jaw the middle incisors are small 

 and the lateral ones of moderate size. The molars and premolars 

 form very irregular surfaces, the projections of the lower teeth fit- 

 ing into corresponding hollows in the upper teeth, and ^'ice versa. 

 This construction of the teeth and the strictly up-and-down motion 

 of the jaws are well adapted to the chopping up of insects or other 

 animal food, but do not permit any grinding motion as is the case 

 with animals living on seeds, grain, or other vegetable food. On ac- 

 count of this structure of the teeth naturalists have been loath to be- 

 lieve that the mole ever eats vegetable food, for which its teeth seem 

 so ill adapted. 



Although the shrew-mole ranges throughout the state, there are 

 certain sections where it is rare or unknown. In most cases the cause 

 for this is not far to seek. Moles require a soil easily penetrated by 

 their burrows and containing an abundance of wonns or insects for 

 their food, l^vidently a soft, rich loam, not too thoroughly culti- 

 vated, is their ideal habitat, and such localities usually contain an 

 abundance of them. Stonv or coarse gravellv soils are avoided, but 



