MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. 2OI 



our knowledge of the habits of that species, the actions of this mole in swim- 

 ming evidently being based on his personal observations, though the author 

 fails to say so. The fact that Scalops aquaticus can swim, however, is not an 

 argument in favor of the propriety of Linnseus's specific name, as Mr. Wilson 

 inclines to think. The most strictly terrestrial mammals can, when forced to 

 take the water, swim better than the common mole, and it remains a fact that 

 our knowledge of the habits of this species shows it to be one of the least 

 aquatic of the American Talpidce. 



In Part II. the economic relation of these moles to agriculture and their 

 distribution in Pennsylvania is discussed. The economic question is treated 

 on the basis of the examination of thirty-six stomachs of Scalops aquaticus 

 taken in eastern Pennsylvania between June 19, 1896, and Oct. 13, 1897. 

 No examinations of the stomachs of the star-nose mole are recorded. For- 

 tunately these mole stomachs were submitted in several cases to the proper 

 specialists, and the identifications can be relied upon as representing the, 

 fullest and most accurate record of the food of the common species through- 

 out the year which we yet possess. 



Of the 36 specimens examined, all contained animal food- matter ; 27 had 

 eaten earthworms in common with other material ; 7 had eaten earthworms 

 alone; 27 had eaten insects of which a large proportion were injurious 

 species, as Lachnosterna; 9 had eaten insects only, and 10 had taken vege- 

 table matter in connection with insect food. None had taken vegetable mat- 

 ter only. Only 2 of those containing vegetable matter could have devoured it 

 intentionally ; one of these had short sections of grass blades in its stomach, 

 apparently bitten off piece by piece, but as this stomach also contained a 

 June bug or May beetle, Prof. Howard thinks the mole was only indirectly 

 icsponsible. In the other case the fragments of nearly a whole grain of com 

 were found. 



Mr. Wilson's conclusions as to the economic status of the mole, referring 

 in this case solely to the common Scalops aquaticus, may thus be summarized : 

 i. Stomach examinations with very few exceptions (and these perhaps fortui- 

 tous), acquit the mole of intentionally devouring vegetable food. 2. The 

 mole is strictly insectivorous (independently of its earthworm diet), devouring 

 a larger portion of injurious than of beneficial insects. 3. Having so proved 

 it is equivalent to proving that its work is beneficial to agriculturists, the 

 mechanical injury to vegetation due to its burrowing being more than com- 

 pensated by its destruction of noxious insects. 4. The ravages of field mice 

 and other small burrowing rodents which follow the runways of the mole are 

 almost always, the cause of the popular prejudice against the latter animal. 



We agree largely with these conclusions so far as they go, and only wish 

 that our author had been able to give judgment as to the star-nose mole. 

 From what we know of its habits and distribution, however, as well as its 



