454 Lake Maxmkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



ations in the country where the conditions are favorable. Their 

 burrows are often seen along the railroad, and frequently they are 

 seen to pass from one side of the track to the other, passing under 

 the rails between the ties. Several of their burrows were noted in 

 various places about the lake in September and October, 1913. 



Several were caught during our stay at the lake. When a cap- 

 tive mole is released it does not attempt to escape by running away 

 but at once begins to dig or burrow, and in an incredibly short 

 time it has sunk into the ground and entirely disappeared. 



The popular prejudice against the mole based on the belief that 

 it is injurious to vegetation is entirely unjustified. Moles are in- 

 sectivorous in their habits and do not eat garden plants or vege- 

 tables at all. The only possible harm they cause is the slight in- 

 jury they sometimes do to lawns by their burrows. This, how- 

 ever, is infinitesimal in comparison with the great good done by 

 ridding the fields, gardens and lawns of noxious worms, insects 

 and larvse. 



3. MOLE SHREW 



BLARINA BREVICAUDA (Say) 



On account of its nocturnal and underground habits the Mole 

 Shrew is not often seen and is therefore not very well or generally 

 known even to those living in localities in which it is really com- 

 mon. It is probably not uncommon about Lake Maxinkuckee. We 

 have records of 10 specimens, of which nine were found dead as 

 follows : One in road south of Arlington, in August, 1899 ; one on 

 lake shore October 20, 1900 ; one south of Arlington, October 9, 

 1906 ; one at ice-houses, October 22, 1906 ; one on Long Point, 

 October 29, 1906; one on Long Point, September 25, 1907; one in 

 road on Long Point, October 13, 1907. One was caught in a trap 

 on west side of lake, November 1, and another on Long Point, 

 October 22, 1906. One was caught by a cat, October 3, 1906. 



Special search would no doubt have enabled us to find many 

 more specimens of this curious little creature. 



The stomach of the one caught October 22, contained many 

 parasites resembling tapeworms. The one found October 29 was 

 lying at the edge of the water and was covered with leeches. 



Why these little creatures are so often found dead is not well 

 understood. It has been suggested that the fetid odor of this ani- 

 mal, particularly the male, causes it to be rejected by animals which 

 would otherwise prey upon it, and that those found dead are in- 

 dividuals which have been caught by hawks or owls and dropped 



