\ 
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54 BULLETIN NO. VII. 
way. It seems hardly likely that this organ really assists 
materially in loosening or removing the soil, as some have 
thought. Advantage is taken of the upward thrust of the 
earth to place dead-falls over their runways, in such a way 
that the passage of the animal shall cause a weighted and 
armed board to descend and transfix the animal. Little is 
known of the domestic economy of the mole. It rarely leaves 
the earth on dark days, though it has been seen in the streets 
of a large city, wandering aimlessly. The males are said to 
be very pugnacious, and live apart during most of the year. 
Two litters of from five to nine young may be produced annu- 
ally. The nest is found in sheltered situations, and is com- 
posed of grass and leaves. The complicated system of galleries 
produced by Talpa is not ascribed to our species. 
Sealops (aquaticus VAR.) argentatus AUD. and BacuH. 
Scalops argentatus BACHMAN. Journ. Acad. Phila. 
AUDUBON and BACHMAN. Quad. N. A. 
REICHENBACH. Naturg. Raubt. 
WAGNER. Schreber’s Siugeth. 
BAIRD. Nam. N. A. 
FirzincEer. Naturlich. Fam. Waulwiirfe. 
JORDAN. Mam. Vertebrates. 
KENNICOTT. Pat. Of. Rep. Agr., 1857. 
Scalops aquaticus GIEBEL. Siugeth. 
Scalops aquaticus var. argentatus COUES. [?] 
BRAYTON. Mam. Ohio. 
Although this is the common form in Minnesota, the writer 
has had no opportunity to compare the anatomy with S. aqua- 
ticus. In all probability it should stand as a well marked geo- 
graphical variety, conspicuous for its light colored silvery fur, 
which is very long, fluffy and soft. It averages somewhat 
larger than the common mole; other differences seem to be 
intangible. It is difficult to conceive of a more beautiful pelage 
than that of this mole, the individual hairs being as fine and so 
peculiarly formed as to give rise to a gorgeous play of colors, 
due to interference of the rays of light reflected. This species 
occurs in Ohio, and extends westward, throughout the prairie 
region. 
Mr. Weber says: ‘‘Two moles in nine days ate 341 white 
worms, 193 earth worms, 25 caterpillars, and a mouse, both the 
bones and skin of which they swallowed.” An idea that the 
mole is possessed of an unusually keen sense of hearing seems 

