4 
e of the Mammalia of Connecticut. 347 
Desa Tarrix. The Mole Family. 
*10. — Canadensis, Cuv., Shrew Mole, common, Strat- 
fo 
rd. 
“tT. Condylura Tongicandata, Desmarest, lose tailed Star-nose 
Mole, Stratford. 
*12. C. macrura, Harlan, Black gifftnose Mole, Stratford. 
Family Ursiwx. The Bear Family. 
*13. Ursus Americanus, Pallas, common, Black Bear. ? 
*14. Procyon Lotor, Cuv., Raccoon, common, O. L. 
nose and tail, upper side dull red, under parts dark gray or light mouse-colored ; 
end of tail a pencil of black hairs; feet and legs white, or pale flesh color, toes five 
on each foot, middle one rather largest, second and fourth sub-equal, first and fifth 
much shartee than the others, though nearly equal to each other, nail white, feet 
and legs covered throughout with very soft white hair, which is searcely perceptible 
without magnifying, length of hind feet to elbow .5; length of fore leg scarcely 
perceptible, except the foot, which is three tenths of an inch long. Whiskers 
white, and some of them extend to the ears. Eyes visible, 34 lines Pow the nose. 
Orifice of the ear very large, and curiously folded, being nearly 3 lines across, It 
was named by Dr. Dekay, to whom I sentit, S. slakurrhinchets. and he describes it 
as a sub-genus, Orisorex. The whole fur of the animal is exquisitely soft and 
glossy, and he is the least and most delicate mammiferous quadruped I eyer be- 
held. ‘Dental formula, incisors, and cheek teeth +§ — 32 teeth,” (as decided 
by Dr. Dekay,) who “ pays no attention to what are called false molars and true 
— as he believes in neither of them in the family of Soricide. “ 
. Dr. Godman was, I think, mistaken in saying “1 the mole employs his flexi- 
np snout to thrust his food into his mouth .” A very 
little observation of the part will show its impracticability.. But one fact I discov- 
ered which may be relied upon. r satisfying my at he not eat 
meat or corn, but w oner starve, I rubbed some thick grease ¢ 
of an earth ivoneel 3 in which I had him confined, and he would entirely elena 
the surface, by sucking the grease through his oe and this fact, witnessed 
with my own eye, induces me to believe, that the rays upon the star-nose mole 
may be used as feelers, and as means of creating pot to bring food, via the 
nostrils to the stomach. If it be objected that the mole’s n nostrils have no passage 
to the stomach, then it must have been conveyed by rolling the side ( the upper 
jaw into the mouth, and thus making a tube into the mouth below the nostrils, 
But Sentainly the point of the nose or upper jaw does not bend in at all. 
I have obtained a specimen of each in Stratford, and have them in 
my cabin 
ed © % Pa black se has been killed in Connecticut since my recollection, and 
ing to Dr. ns, some are killed every ae in Williamstown, Mass, 
“14, Dr. Emmons, in in his report, page 26, says: “the raccoon is ak known to 
oy small ep and in a state of nature is eed to subsist entirely on 
” This.isa mistake; I have seen recently in Weston, a hen-roost 
built of . en feet aie and covered with a wooden roof, which the 
