Common Mel« 



the surface. It must require a great deal of strength to accom- 

 plish this, taking into consideration the tendency lawns have for 

 packing under such conditions. By the time he has attained a 

 distance of a yard or more from his last dumping place, the exer- 

 tion apparently becomes too great and he opens up a new outlet 

 to the surface, and another heap is started. In this manner and in 

 sleeping the mole spends practically all his time ; forcing his un- 

 lighted way along with gimlet-like nose and scooping feet, the 

 confining earth crowding in all about him, restricting every move- 

 ment of his body. 



In winter he conducts his labours at a greater depth in order 

 to escape the frost. In spring I have found recently made tunnels 

 in the subsoil four feet or more below the surface. 



The American mole is also said to construct true mole-hills 

 similar to those of the more famous Old World species though 

 more deeply submerged. 



A real mole-hill is an ingenious arrangement of galleries in 

 the hard-packed earth, Surrounding the nest-chamber as a safe- 

 guard and a means of escape. Two galleries encircle the 

 chamber at distance of a few inches one above the other, and 

 connected with it and with each other by numerous short passages, 

 insuring a quick and certain means of retreat in any direction. 

 From the lower gallery other passages decend to the main road- 

 way of the colony, which is an extended passage always kept 

 open and free from obstructing roots and earth, and used by 

 all the individuals of a colony in going from their nest to their 

 diggings. 



1 have never seen much evidence, however, that our common 

 mole works in colonies as the star-nosed and European species do. 

 It seems to me rather that each starts off by himself as soon as 

 he is able to dig alone, burrowing along at random in whatever 

 direction food appears to be most abundant. 



Brewer's Mole 



Parascalops breweri (Bachman) 



Also called Hairy-tailed Mole. 



Length. 5.80 inches. 



Description. Dark gray, tail blackish and thickly haired, rather 

 longer than that of the preceding; nose and hands similar. 



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