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. 



Scalops (aquaticus VAR. ) argentatus AUD. and BACH. 



Scalops argentatus BACHMAN. Journ. Acad. Phila. 



AUDUBON and BACHMAN. Quad. "K. A. 



EEICHENBACH. Naturg. Raubt. 



WAGNER. Schreber's Saugeth. 



BAIRD. Nam. N. A. 



FITZTNGER. Naturlich. Fam. Waulwurfe. 



JORDAN. Mam. Vertebrates. 



KENNICOTT. Pat. Of. Rep. Agr., 1857. 

 Ssalops aquaticus GIEBEL. Saugeth. 

 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 



