ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 15 



to attempts to scramble over the sides, ever slipping sideways, 

 and coming down on its forefeet. Its sight and smell seemed 

 to be practically obsolete, for a worm placed close to its nose 

 was not detected ; but no sooner did it touch one than in a 

 moment it flung itself upon it shaking it backward and for- 

 ward, till, getting it fairly into its mouth, it devoured it with 

 a greedy crunching sound. 



Having heard from popular report that a twelve hours' fast 

 would kill a mole, Mr. Wood resolved to try the experiment, 

 so having dug a handful of worms he placed them in the box. 

 In its movements backwards and forwards it came upon this 

 mass of worms, on whichit flung itself in a paroxysm of excite- 

 ment, pulling them about in every direction ; at last having 

 settled on one, it commenced operations, the rest making their 

 escape to the loose mould. Thinking it had now a sufficient 

 supply, two dozen worms having been put in, Mr. Wood shut 

 up the box, which was not opened until the next morning. 

 Twelve hours had elapsed since the supply was inserted, but 

 as it must have spent an hour in hunting for and devouring 

 the others, eleven hours probably had only gone by since the 

 last worm was consumed, but the mole was dead. 



The extreme voracity and restless movements here recorded 

 show its value to the agriculturist ; for though generally con- 

 sidered a perfect nuisance in gardens and lawns, yet its de- 

 struction of worms and grubs might still show a balance in its 

 favor : and in certain localities, such as old rocky pastures, by 

 throwing up and loosening the soil, and as a subsoil drainer 

 who works without wages, it is of great benefit. 



There is another species of this family, much more rare, 

 the Star-nosed Mole {Condylura cristata). This mole has 

 a slender elongated muzzle, terminating in a vertical circular 

 disk of from eighteen to twenty cartilaginous fibres. When 

 in confinement, these tendrils or fibres are in perpetual motion. 

 Its geographical limits are not yet established, but it is known 

 from Hudson Bay to Virginia. It is found about old build- 



