Mole-shrew H'-ZB 



In the following are detailed the stomach contents of 13 

 Blarinas taken at Cos Cob, Conn., 1908, by E. T. Seton, de- 

 termined by A. Franklin Shull, of Columbia University, New 

 York: 



1. Male. — Without date. Stomach: Earthworms, almost 

 whole; membranous wings of insect (beetle). 



2. Female. — Without date. Very badly preserved. Pickled 

 long after death apparently; hair nearly all off; that remain- 



Fig, 258 — Diagram of a typical burrow of Blarina brevicauda, showinKdiBtribution of snail 

 shells, and an underground storage ciiamfK'r with spiral descent. The upper figure is a 

 horizontal projection; the lower an ideal vertical section. The black circles in the 

 upper diagram are fXiints where the burrow descended abruptly int'j the grr^iund, 



(By A, Franklin Shull). 



ing very loose. Gorged with connective tissue, cartilage, and 

 muscle of ? Intestine filled with same material, diges- 

 tive organs not properly functioning, or this would not be pos- 

 sible. Or is this material indigestible ? 



3. Female. — September 21. Good condition; well pre- 

 served stomach: Earthworm seta;; parts of insects; some of 

 its own (Blarina's) hair, probably swallowed with food. Uterus 

 contained 5 embryos, about 5 mm. long from caudal end 

 to cervical flexure; probably between one and two weeks 

 old. 



4. Male. — September 22. Skull crushed by trap; ex- 

 cellent preservation. Stomach full: Earthworms, almost un- 

 digested. Must have been preserved soon after death, the 

 digestion having been largely prevented, and hair being firm. 



