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EARTH TRESPASSERS. 



a "top-dressing." In these latter respects the two 

 animals are tolerably equal; but it may be said 

 against the Slepez, that the good which it does in 

 removing the soil is counterbalanced by the harm 

 which it does in devouring the roots. 



There is a very remarkable animal which was, I 

 believe, discovered by the laie Mr. J. K. Lord in 

 British Columbia, or, at all events, he was the first to 

 notice its habits. It is an insectivorous mammal, 

 about as large as an ordinary shrew-mouse. Like the 

 Slepez, it has no eyes, and apparently possesses but 

 little sense of hearing, all sensation seeming to be 

 comprised in its nose. This again is very much elon- 

 gated, and, according to Mr. Lord, " is terminated in 

 a naked, fleshy kind of a bulb gland, and this gland is 

 pierced by two minute holes, which are the nostrils. 

 Each nostril has a little fold of membrane hanging 

 down over it like a shutter, effectually preventing sand 

 and minute particles of dust from getting into the nose 

 while digging. It belongs to the genus Urotrichus. 



This animal has a central house something like 

 that of the mole, and from that it cuts a number of 

 radiating tunnels, having frequent openings into the air. 

 Mr. Lord is of opinion that these tunnels are simply 

 used as roadways, not as means of obtaining food. 



Mr. Lord's account of the habits of this animal is 

 so graphic that I cannot resist the temptation of trans- 

 ferring a portion of it to these pages, for a better 

 description of the life of an earth trespasser can hardly 

 be found. 



" As he digs out the tunnel with his trowel hands, 



