146 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and insects, of which their food entirely consists. This little animal is 

 almost entirely subterranean in its habits, passing most of the time 

 beneath the surface of the ground, where it forms extensive burrows at 

 the depth of three or four inches. The little mounds of loose earth 

 which it throws up, are probably used for breathing places. The neigh- 

 borhood of a river or pond seems to be a favorite with this species, and it 

 is a good swimmer. 



Description. — Head strong, elongated to the nose, which is long, nearly 

 naked, and truncated at the end. The nostrils are placed at the upper 

 side of the end of the snout ; incisors, six in the upper and four in the 

 lower jaw ; eye very minute, scarcely visible, even on close examination ; 

 external ear wanting ; body robust, covered with short, thick, smooth 

 fur, which is generally brownish-gray, lighter beneath ; fore-feet broad and 

 strong, naked, except near the wrist, scarcely as long as broad, the toes 

 united together by a membrane, to the base of the nails, which are five 

 in number, very long, sharply pointed, thin, and hollowed beneath. 



The posterior extremities are weak, the feet long and slender, palmated 

 to the claws, which are thin, curved, and sharp. The tail is short, and 

 nearly naked. Length from nose to root of tail, five inches ; length of 

 tail, one inch. 



Genus : Condylura. — (Illiger.) 

 Characteristics. — Similar to scalops, but with a fringe of radiating 

 cartilages surrounding the nose ; tail nearly as long as the body, covered 

 with hair. 



Condylura cristaia, (Harlan.) — Stak-nosed Mole. — [Fig. 3.] 

 This mole is not uncommon in this State. They are often caught 

 by domestic cats, but seldom eaten by them, on account of the musky 

 odor which this, as well as the common mole has. Like the latter, this 

 species is subterranean in its habits, digging in and beneath the ground 

 for worms and insects, of which its food consists. It prefers the neigh- 

 borhood of a stream, and is a tolerable swimmer. Four fine specimens 

 before me furnish the following 



Description. — Head strong, tapering to the nose, which is surrounded 

 by a number of radiating cartilages, disposed so as to form a star-like fringe^ 

 [Fig. 3%] — hence the name. Incisors, six in each jaw ; canines, long and 

 sharp, six in each jaw; molars, six in each jaw; eyes very minute, hardly 

 visible ; body robust, covered with a thick, smooth fur, which is cinereous 

 at its base, and on the back terminated with dark brown, and on the belly with 

 light brown ; anterior feet broad, powerful, and palmated to the claws, 

 which are five in number, long, sharply-pointed and thin, and hollowed 

 beneath ; the posterior feet are slender, and palmated to the claws, which 

 are five in number, thin and sharp ; the tail is about as long as the body 



