6o MAMMALIA. 



of a most singular perversity of taste, or of habits hitherto totally un- 

 known as appertaining to animals of this genus, and meriting a 

 farther inquiry. While at his estate near Throg's Neck, on Long 

 Island Sound, his son, who is an intelligent young lad, and fond of 

 Natural History, observed in company with an old servant of the 

 family, a Shrew Mole in the act of swallowing, or devouring, a com- 

 mon toad — this was accomplished by the Mole, and he was then 

 killed, being unable to escape after such a meal, and was taken to 

 the house, when Mr. Hammond saw and examined the animal, with 

 the toad partially protruding from its throat. This gentleman also 

 related to us some time ago, that he once witnessed an engagement 

 between two Moles, that happened to encounter each other, in one 

 of the noon-day excursions, this species is so much in the habit of 

 making. The combatants sidled up to one another like two little 

 pigs, and each tried to root the other over, in attempting which, 

 their efforts so much resembled the manner of two boars fighting, 

 that the whole affair was supremely ridiculous to the beholder, 

 although no doubt to either of the bold warriors, the consequences 

 of an overthrow would have been a very serious affair ; and the 

 conqueror, would vent his rage upon the fallen hero, and punish him 

 severely with his sharp teeth. We have no doubt these conflicts 

 generally take place in the love season, and are caused by rivalry, and 

 that some ' fair Mole ' probably rewards the victor." * 



Farther on, the same authors observe : " We had an opportunity on 

 two different occasions of examining the nests and young of the 

 Shrew Mole. The nests were about eight inches below the surface, 

 the excavation was rather large and contained a quantity of oak 

 leaves on the outer surface, lined with soft dried leaves of the crab- 

 grass [Digitaria sanginnalis). There were galleries leading to 

 this nest, in two or three directions. The young numbered in one 

 case, five, and in another, nine. 



* Quadrupeds of North America, vol. I, 1846, pp. 85-86, 87-88. 



