CHAPTER V 

 ORDER OF MOLES AND SHREWS 



INSECTIVORA 



IN the dark and cold embrace of Mother Earth, away from 

 the cheering sunlight, and the beautiful upper world that 

 we enjoy, there dwells a group of mammals so strange, and 

 yet so useful to man, that they excite our admiration for 

 the wise purpose which developed and placed them there. 

 Pass not unthinkingly the moles and shrews, for they have 

 been most cunningly designed to serve a definite and important 

 purpose in the economy of Nature. 



In farming countries the top soil of the earth is a vast 

 incubator for the development of destructive insect larvae. 

 In soil that is rich and productive, "grub worms," "cut- 

 worms," and "wireworms" abound; and ^in regular rotation 

 they greedily devour the seeds, roots, and leaves of growing 

 crops. But for the enemies which keep them in check, there 

 would be a hungry grub for every sprouting seed. 



And how can man wage war successfully against insect 

 life in the soil? Impossible. To meet this difficult proposi- 

 tion, we need a vigorous living creature with a nose like a 

 gimlet, sharp-pointed teeth, soft fur, feet specially designed 

 for digging, and eyes so small that to them sunlight is an 

 unnecessary luxury. Such animals are found in the moles 



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