Feb., igi2. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 443 



situated in a large excavation under a stump. The old ones had made 

 their escape, and we endeavored to preserve the young; but the want 

 of proper nourishment caused their death in a couple of days."* 



A nest found by Dr. Merriam is described as being about two feet 

 beneath the surface in clay soil and under a stump. "It was com- 

 posed of grass, and from it a passage led to a vegetable garden near 

 by" (/. c, p. 151). 



The food of the Star-nosed Mole is apparently about the same as 

 that of the Prairie Mole. It lives largely upon insects and worms, 

 but like the common species will eat Mice and meat in captivity. 



Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton gives' an interesting account of the 

 habits of a captive animal of this species. He says: 



"On July 7, iQog, at Cos Cob, Conn., I received an adult male 

 Star-nosed Mole captured alive by a stream, not in the water, but 

 running along a mossy bank. 



"With the help of a commodious cage I made a number of observa- 

 tions. When put in deep water he swam swiftly and strongly. He 

 progressed largely by the skulling action of his tail, but also swam with 

 all four feet, striking alternately, never by striking with both hind-feet 

 at once, as most truly aquatic quadrupeds do occasionally. He did 

 not dive, and always endeavored to get out of the water as quickly as 

 possible. * * * 



"In the middle of each day he curled up and slept for two or three 

 hours. At night he was very active. 



"When given a pile of loose earth in which were many worms he 

 showed great delight, and dived again and again through the pile, 

 sometimes coming out with a womi, and suggested an Otter diving in a 

 salmon river. * * * 



"As soon as the above-named captive was caged, I gave him 12 

 grammes of common womis. He paid no heed for half an hour, but 

 then aroused himself and fell on the worms with great demonstration, 

 continually twiddling them with his 22 nose-fingers. Though avid, he 

 ate them slowly, holding them with his fore-claws and tearing them up 

 before devouring. In half an hotir all were gone. This was at noon; 

 at 1 :45 he seemed ravenous again. I gave him a similar amount of 

 wonns, also 3 cutworm grubs; these latter he ignored while the former 

 lasted. Towards night I gave the Mole about 2 ounces of raw beef, 

 of which l'^ only was lean, the rest fat. In the morning all the lean was 

 eaten and all the fat rejected. 



"Now a newly killed Deer-mouse was offered to him. He sprang 

 on this with much demonstration and little effect. After twiddling it 



* Quadrupeds of N. Amer., II, 1851, pp. 141-142. 



