NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF LAKE MAXINKUCKEE 33 



The stomach of the one caught October 22, contained many para- 

 sites resembling tapeworms. The one found October 29, was lying 

 at the edge of the water and was covered with leeches. 



Why these little creatures are so often found dead is not well 

 understood. It has been suggested that the fetid odor of this ani- 

 mal, particularly the male, causes it to be rejected by animals which 

 would otherwise prey upon it, and that those found dead are indi- 

 viduals which have been caught by hawks or owls and dropped 

 after discovering the disagreeable odor possessed by the little ani- 

 mal which the hawk or owl at first thought would prove a delicious 

 titbit. 



The carnivorous, bloodthirsty nature of the Mole Shrew has been 

 noted by many observers. On two different occasions we put a 

 Mole Shrew in a box with a white-footed mouse and in each case the 

 shrew killed and ate the mouse. Others have recorded similar 

 experiences. One observer records the fact that a Mole Shrew ate 

 three times its own weight of meadow mice in 24 hours. 



30. Scalops aquaticus machrinus Rafinesque . 

 Common Mole. 



The Mole is very common about this lake. Its burrows may be 

 seen in all suitable places. The loose, sandy soil is particularly 

 well adapted to their habits. They are usually abundant on Long 

 Point, also along the railroad, in the fields and open woodlands 

 about the lake, in the Academy grounds, and in fact in all situations 

 in the country where the conditions are favorable. Their burrows 

 are often seen along the railroad, and frequently they are seen to 

 pass from one side of the track to the other, passing under the rails 

 between the ties. 



Several were caught during our stay at the lake. When a cap- 

 tive mole is released it does not attempt to escape by running away 

 but at once begins to dig or burrow, and in an incredibly short time 

 it has sunk into the ground and entirely disappeared. 



The popular prejudice against the mole based on the belief that 

 it is injurious to vegetation is entirely unjustified. Moles are 

 insectivorous in their habits and do not eat garden plants or vege- 

 tables at all. The only possible harm they cause is the slight injury 



