CONDVr.URA CRISTATA. 49 



the ground thawed and the surface became moist and mellow though 

 the temperature remained low. Indeed, it is not uncommon for 

 fresh green grass to spring up under the heavy covering which 

 Dame Nature spreads over her northern possessions in winter ; 

 and residents of cold countries often avail themselves of the pro- 

 tection afforded b)- seemingly inhospitable snow banks. 



There is a low and somewhat wet piece of ground bordering a 

 small creek near my home in Lewis County. During and after 

 every heavy rain, and for a considerable period in spring and fall, 

 this creek overflows its banks and a large part of the surrounding 

 flat is converted into a swamp. Star-nosed Moles have been com- 

 mon here ever since I can remember, their hills dotting the surface 

 in various directions. In the fall of 1883 a colony of them were 

 exceedingly active in one part of this flat and their mounds could 

 be counted by hundreds over an area a few acres in extent. For 

 the double purpose of procuring specimens, and of ascertaining if 

 more species than one were concerned in these excavations, I de- 

 termined to trap some of the animals, and was joined in the under- 

 taking by Dr. A. K. Fisher. 



This species, as well as Brewer's and the Shrew Mole, may be 

 trapped by taking advantage of the habit of removing obstacles 

 from the primary galleries, which are always kept in repair. A 

 snare of fine wire or horse hair made to surround the runway, and 

 connected with a bit of stick that protrudes into the burrow and 

 liberates a small springpole when moved, is the best device for 

 their capture with which I am acquainted. The traps made by us 

 consisted of a small strip of board with a bow or hoop set in each 

 end, to keep the wire loops in place, and so arranged that the 

 Mole is equally apt to be taken from whichever direction he comes. 

 During the latter part of October and first of November we 

 set half a dozen traps of this description, visiting them twice daily 

 until November 13th, when a fall of six inches of snow and the 

 freezing of the ground suspended operations for a few days. The 



