Aug. 1910.] 



The Common Mole. 



13 



like in character. They fight savagely, kill and eat other small 

 mammals larger than themselves, and when angry or excited 

 emit a musky odor like the weasel and the mink. 



Comparative dentition of a crrnivore, a rodent, rnd a mole. 

 (Adapted from D. G. Elliot.) 1 Skull of a weasel 

 (Putorius). 2 Skull of a wood-rat (Neotoma) . 3 Skull 

 of a mole (Scalops). 



It has long been known to scientists, through careful study 

 and investigation, that the diet of moles consists mainly of the 

 insects, grubs and worms to be found in the soil. This fact, 

 however, has been slower in gaining popular credence than 

 most scientific pronunciamentos. In another part of this bul- 

 letin the mole's guests have been called to account for the gen- 

 eral prejudice which has arisen against him, and, again, in 

 this connection, let it be understood that the mole is directly 

 responsible for only a very small portion of any damage t > 

 seeds, grains and tubers in the ground. Field mice, voles and 



