117 



From the other two species mentioned, it may be distin- 

 guished by the following characteristics. From the star-nosed 

 mole, by its shorter tail and the absence of radiating appen- 

 dages on the end of the snout, and from the common mole, by 

 the profuse growth of hair on the tail. 



I have taken one specimen in which the hair on the end of 

 the tail was white, but the color of all others that I have col- 

 lected was dark throughout. With old individuals, white spot- 

 on the head, breast, feet and tail are said to be not uncommon. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



This mole is a northern species, but it follows the Allegha- 

 nies southward as far as North Carolina. In Pennsylvania it 

 extends its range a considerable distance into the lowlands, espe- 

 cially on the western side of the mountains. The same is true 

 of the species in this state, but farther south it seems to be 

 restricted to the mountain regions. My observations on the 

 moles have been confined principally to the hilly regions in the 

 central part of this state. The locality, where most of my col- 

 lecting has been done, is about thirty miles west of the main 

 ridges of the Alleghanies and has an elevation of near 1,600 

 feet. Of about twenty-five moles collected in this locality in 

 1907, all were Brewer's moles. 



GENERAL HABITS. 



Brewer's mole, like other species of its class, spends its 

 life underground hunting animal food and nesting. It is doubt- 

 ful if this species ever comes willingly to the light. I have 

 never caught a glimpse of one except as some disturbing influ- 

 ence in its life brought it to the surface. 



When the ground is moist and soft it works near the sur- 

 face and frequently throws up ridges and hills of earth several 

 inches high. In dry weather when the ground is hard, and in 

 cold weather when the surface is frozen, it mines at a greater 

 depth. 



