CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 4. INSECTIVORA. 



149 



the bottom of the chamber runs another passage, which descends for a certain distance and then 

 rises again toward the surface, until it falls into the high road leading from the residence to the 

 creature's hunting-ground; this also communicates with the lower gallery, and forms one of 

 about nine tunnels, which issue from all parts of the latter, and which are said by the French 

 naturalists to open again into the high road at various distances. 



The hitrh road is much larger than any of the ordinary tunnels made by the mole in searching 

 for his prey, which open out from it in various directions, and its object evidently is to give the 

 animal a free and rapid communication with his fortress : in fact, an experiment performed in 

 France proved that the speed with which a mole, when alarmed, traversed the course of his 

 main tunnel was nearly equal to that of a horse at full trot. The depth at which the road is 

 made varies according to circumstances : in ordinary situations, it is rarely more than four or live 

 inches; but in passing under a road, or any other place where it is exposed to much pressure, 

 the animal will carry its burrow to the depth of a foot or more. 



While burrowing in search of food, the mole frequently comes to the surface, where it makes 

 an opening, and through this the earth, loosened in its excavations, is got rid of; it forms the little 

 heaps well known in the fields and meadows as mole-hills. It is a most voracious animal, and a 

 verv short fast is fatal to it ; in fact, when two individuals in captivity are not sufficiently sup- 

 plied with food, the weaker is always killed and devoured by the stronger one. In winter, the 

 mole continues active, but in severe weather, usually seeks its food at a greater depth in the 

 •rround ; in the summer, on the contrary, it frequently quits its abode at night, and hunts for 

 insects and worms on the surface. It swims well, and often takes to the water, sometimes for 

 self-preservation when its retreats are invaded by floods, sometimes in changing its abode when 

 its course is stopped by a rivulet, and occasionally, according to some writers, for the mere pleas- 

 ure of taking a bath. It is a fierce little creature, and bites severely when incautiously seized. 

 The males also have sanguinary and fatal combats in the season of their amours. 



THE COMMON SHREW-MOLE. 



THE SCALOPS, OR SHREW-MOLES. ' . . 



Genus SCALOPS. — The family of Scalops, or Shrew-Moles, belongs exclusively to North 



America. In their dentition they are closely allied to the shrews and desmans, and in their form 



! and habits to the true moles. The latter animals are not found in the United States ; the shrew- 



