248 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE UNITED STATES 



prolonged to form a proboscis: about 9 families, 2 North American; 

 widely distributed, one of the largest species being the European 

 hedgehog. 



Key to the North American Families of Insectivora 



ai Fore feet very large and modified for digging; moles i. Talpidce. 



Sio Fore feet not so modified; shrews 2. Soricidce. 



Family I. Talpidae. — Moles. Body stout and cylindrical, covered 

 by very soft fur; external ears absent; eyes very small and concealed 

 in the fur; fore feet enormously enlarged and held vertically; neck not 

 apparent ; snout proboscis-like : about 36 species and subspecies; about 10 

 in the United States. Moles inhabit the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, 

 living in burrows underground where they feed principally on earth- 

 worms and insect grubs. The nest is from 10 to 18 inches beneath the 

 surface, and from it deep tunnels radiate. A second series of tunnels is 

 made just beneath the surface, which appear as the familiar surface 

 ridges which often disfigure lawns; they are made in search of food. 

 A single litter of about 4 young is born in the spring time. 



Key to the United States Genera of Talpidae 



ai In the eastern and central States, 

 bi Tail very short. 



Ci Tail slender and nearly naked; the common mole (Fig. 



140) I . Scalopus. 



C2 Tail thick and very hairy (Fig. 140) 2. Parascalops. 



hi Tail long; snout with a star-shaped disc 3. Condylura. 



a2 In the Pacific coast States. 



bi Large moles, over 150 mm. long 4. Scapanus. 



hi Small moles, under 125 mm. long 5. Neurotrichus. 



I. Scalopus Geoffroy. Adult dentition 3/2, i/o, 3/3, 3/3; youthful 

 dentition 7,13, i/i, 3/3, 3/3; nostrils superior in position, being at the 

 end of the snout, which is obliquely truncated ; digits webbed : 1 2 species 

 and subspecies. 



S. aqiiaticus (L.). Common mole (Fig. 140; Fig. 141). Body dark 

 slate color, often tinged with brown; length 160 mm.; tail 27 mm.; 

 hind foot 20 mm. : eastern and central States from Massachusetts and 

 central Minnesota to Texas; westward to northeastern Colorado; 

 very common; of considerable importance as a fur-bearing animal. 



Subspecies of S. aquaticus 



S. a. aquaticus (L.). Atlantic States from southern Massachusetts 

 and southeastern New York to North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. 



