Mole-shrew 1121 



With 6 traps set for two weeks in a sedgy corner of an num- 

 island at Lake of the Woods, I captured 5 of this species and ^^^ 

 had evidence of others remaining. As the sedgy tract was 



Fig. 255 — Portion of Blarina labyrinth on snow. 



less than two acres in extent, this furnishes a hint of their pos- 

 sible numbers. 



One day in January, 1907, after a fresh fall of snow, I 

 walked for a mile through the woods at Cos Cob, and found 

 labyrinths of fresh Blarina tunnels about every fifty yards. 



There was doubtless a Blarina for each system of tunnels, 

 and many of the species were probably not yet represented, as 

 it was but three or four hours since the fresh snow came. This, 

 therefore, affords a minimum gauge of the creature's numbers. 



In late September, 1908, I noticed a great many small, 

 round holes opening from underground galleries. They were 

 sometimes i inch across, sharp, round, and opened from 

 below; sometimes i| inches with a little loose earth scratched 



....-»"■ >- 



1 \ 





x-<: 



1' / 



Fig. 256 — Blarina labyrinth on snow. March 6, 1Q07. Cos Cob, Conn. 

 The black spots are plunge holes straight down. 



out. The former went down plumb, the others sloping. They 

 were so numerous that I found 6 along a little woodland 

 pathway 94 yards in length; 6 traps set by these resulted 



