Star-nosed Mole 1139 



he gives a yet farther afield occurrence — a Star-nose from 

 Rigoulette, on the coast of Labrador. His statement is as 

 follows : 



" Goldthwaite saw and fully identified a Star-nosed Mole 

 that the dogs caught at Rigoulette. As he assures me there 

 is not the slightest chance of a mistake in his identification, 

 the species must be included." 



Its environment is fairly well understood. It is the least envi- 

 molish of its family, preferring swimming to digging, and a low ment 

 meadow, a mossy bog, or even a wet marsh, to the most alluring 

 of upland pastures. 



Commenting on the Lake Edward specimen, Bangs says: 



"No work of this Mole was seen anywhere. The one 

 taken was caught in a cyclone trap set under an old log. 

 Probably the animal lives below the deep layer of moss, with 

 which everything is covered, and therefore gives no sign of its 

 presence." 



Nevertheless, it does not entirely avoid the drier fields, 

 the ploughed lands, or even the garden, when making a side 

 trip or seeking a new range. 



The home-range of the individual is probably about the home- 

 same size as that of other Moles — an acre of swamp is sufficient. 

 Here it will dwell in comfort for weeks or months, till famine, 

 flood, or a strong invader compels it to depart to some other 

 swamp a hundred long yards off. 



The Star-nose is remarkable among Moles in being socia- 

 sociable, or at least gregarious, as these animals are known to 

 live in colonies, which, judging from the results of their united 

 labours, should contain at least a dozen individuals. Merriam 

 speaks" of capturing 8 in one colony, and evidently did not 

 exhaust their number. Elsewhere'" he refers to their being "in 

 large colonies," and says he considers it one of the commonest 

 Moles in the Adirondack region. 



• Mam. Adir., 1884, p. 148. '" Ibid., p. 150. 



