PECULIARITIES OF THE COMMON MOLE 151 



by two Families, the members of which are easily recognized 

 by the following well-marked characters: 



The Moles have pointed heads; extremely large spade- 

 like front feet, that always are held with the outer edge up; 

 no neck; the front legs are exceedingly short; there is no ex- 

 ternal ear, and no external eye; the body is short, thick, and 

 clumsy, and the tail is hairless. 



The Shrews have pointed heads, but small, rat-like feet ; 

 there is a very small eye, an external ear, and a distinct neck. 

 The body is rather slender, and as a whole, the animal looks 

 much like a short-tailed mouse. 



THE MOLE FAMILY 



Talpidae 



This Family contains eleven full species, all quite interest- 

 ing. Their skins and skulls have been studied closely, but 

 our information regarding their habits is very meagre. As a 

 rule, moles are larger than shrews. The largest of all is an 

 Oregon species, which measures 7 inches in length of head and 

 body, with a tail of 13^2 inches, — an unusual size for a mole. 



On all moles the fur is fine, thick, very soft and velvety, 

 and faultlessly smooth and clean. All these creatures love 

 sandy soil, through which they can easily burrow. 



The Common Mole 1 is known to the majority of country 

 dwellers by its upheaved tunnels on the surface of the ground. 

 In appearance the animal is a flattened, oblong ball of fine, 

 soft, shimmering gray fur, GM inches long, to which the naked, 

 little pink-white tail — which looks like a small angleworm — • 



1 Sea' lops a-quat'i-cus. 



