56 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



Only a partial synonomy is given, but enough to indicate the 

 attention which this strange species has received at the hands 

 of naturalists. Although probably measurably common, this 

 species is very rarely seen. Only one specimen was secured 

 during the progress of the survey, and the Indian who secured 

 it stated that it was the first one he had seen, although he 

 evinced great familiarity with even the smaller animals. 



The specimen, a male with thickened tall, measured as fol- 

 lows: Length to tail, 4 T \; tail, 3^; nose to base of fore foot, 

 If; palm, f ; longest fore claw, j\; hind foot, 1 T ^. The color 

 above was black with a shade os vandyke brown, below a just 

 perceptible tinge of reddish brown, with a ferrugineous suffu- 

 sion. Here and there are rusty splotches, especially under the 

 throat and thighs, tail and feet reddish flesh color; former fusi- 

 form, constricted at the base. Claws straw-yellow. 



In general form this species closely resembles the common 

 mole, being clumsy, neckless, and with enlarged palms. The 

 snout is thicker than in the mole, and its smooth terminal por- 

 tion extends into a fimbriated margin; the radiating cartilag- 

 inous processes numbering from 20 to 22. These processes are 

 about a quarter of an inch long. The nostrils are terminal and 

 circular and the muzzle is furrowed below. The eyes are small, 

 but distinctly visible, and are midway between the muzzle and 

 the ear. The external ear is limited to two small valve-like 

 flaps. The tail is fusiform, and covered with scales which have 

 an annular arrangement between which are sparse hairs. 



The palms are fringed with stiff hair, and the outer edges 

 of the front toes are produced into horny processes. 



The star-nosed mole is distributed from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific in suitable situations, but seems to be most at home 

 between 40 to 45" N. latitude. Moist meadows furnish the con- 

 ditions best suited to this species, and there it may sometimes 

 be found in considerable numbers in company with Scalops 

 aquaticus, in the habits of which it shares, feeding on grubs 

 and the like. The breeding chamber is placed beneath the 

 protection of a stump, .but little is known of the habits. 



Osteology: The skull is more slender than in Scalops, and 

 the auditory openings and bullsB resemble the shrews. Denti- 

 tion I, i, I, I x2=44. The upper incisors project horizontally 

 and are approximate; these are followed by a filiform tooth, 

 and this by a canine-like tooth with a small spur posteriorly. 

 After a hiatus comes a small canine. 



