220 TALl'IDJE. 



foot and claws O9, hind foot and claws 0-8. In fresh specimens 

 the head and body measure 5 to 6 inches. Length of skull T37 

 inches. Weight 2| oz. 



Distribution. The south-western Himalayas, especially Nepal 

 and Sikhim, and the hills south of Assam. About Darjiling this 

 animal occurs at a moderate elevation, 5000 or 6000 to 8000 feet, 



Fig. 61. Talpa micrura. (From Hodgson's drawings.) 



and is common near the station. It may be found at lower levels. 

 Dobson gives Kashmir amongst the localities, perhaps on the 

 authority of Mountstewart Elphinstone (' Caubul,' p. 142) ; but in 

 this case, and in Kumaon, where also moles have been said to 

 occur (As. Res. xvi, p. 153), it is possible that piles of earth thrown 

 out by Nesokice have been mistaken for mole-hills. The instances 

 mentioned are quoted by Blyth (J. A. S. B. xi, p. 95). 



Habits. Around Darjiling the short-tailed mole inhabits the 

 deep bed of black vegetable mould found wherever the original 

 forest has not been destroyed. This mould contains earthworms 

 and larvae of insects, the chief food of moles, in abundance. 

 Jerdon noticed that the runs of T. micrura often proceeded from 

 the base of one great oak to that of another. Such runs are not 

 marked by mole-hills, as in the case of the European species. 

 ' Nothing is known of the breeding of T. micrura. 



113. Talpa lencura. The white-tailed Mole. 



Talpa leucura, JBIyth, J. A. S. B. xix,p. 215, pi. iv, %s. 1, 1 a (skull 

 & tail) (1850) ; xx, p. 618 ; xxviii, p. 294 ; id. Cat. p. 88 j id. Maw. 

 Birds Burma, p. 38 ; Anderson, Cat. p. 170. 



Parascaptor leucura, Dobson, Mon. Ins. p. 140. 



"S 



Fig. 62. Dentition of Talpa leucura. (Dobson, Mon. Ins. pi. xx.) 

 Smaller than T. micrura, and muzzle shorter. Tail about one 

 twelfth of total length or rather more, club-shaped, being thicker 

 towards the end than near the base, thinly clad, the hairs coarser 

 and longer than those of the body. Caudal vertebra) 8. Eyes 

 covered. 



