;;,, V ERTEBRATA. 



mole takes its place, and is popularly regarded as a mole. Tliosc curious little creatures are 

 familiar to even gardener and farmer in the Northern mid Middle States, by their paths and 

 galleries in the earth, the traces of which arc risible in little mounds on the surface. Gifted with 

 powerful fore-paws for digging, and a Bharp, muscular, tough, and flexible nose, it cau bore its 

 in the Bofl soil with amazing celerity. The name given to the tribe, Scalops, from the 

 Latin, sculpo, / scrape, indicates its leading characteristics. One of these creatures will some- 

 times make a course <>t' a hundred feel in a single night! Their food consists chiefly of earth- 

 worms, and these they pursue, emboweled in the soil, with the same energy and activity that 

 other animals sees their prey above ground. It is a general idea in the country that they devour 

 the vegetables, and hence tiny are objects of persecution with the farmer : the damage they do, 

 however, is very Blight, consisting only in disturbing the soil, and occasionally uprooting a fevi 

 plants, and nol in eating them. 



This animal furnishes one of those instances of happy adaptation of means to ends, in which 

 the works of nature abound. Its form is cylindrical, its neck stout and short, its head tapering 

 to a point, — all suiting it to its mining operations in the soil. Its eyes are exceedingly mini 

 and imbedded in fur, bo as to shield them from the dirt in which it works. Its fur is thick and 

 compact, in order to protect the body from the cold and dampness, and every hair is of a glossy 

 polish to repel the earth and mud with which it comes in contact. Add to this, what has been 

 already mentioned, the gimlet nose, and the stout, strong, shovel-shaped paws, and we see a 

 little, energetic, skillful miner, endowed by nature with all the tools needful for success in life. 

 Be seems condemned to toil and darkness, but, in point of fact, what are these but sources of 

 enjoyment, when they lead him to a perpetual feast? If, as sometimes happens, he chooses to 

 peep out from his burrow, and to take a night-sCamper over the sod, his little eyes dilate and 

 give him all the vision that he needs or wishes. Truly viewed, the shrew-mole, apparently con- 

 demned to a dark and dirty existence, is a happy example of a thrifty and contented housekeeper 

 and a very model of personal cleanliness. 



The Common Shrew-Mole, Scalops aquaticus, or S. Canadensis, is about six inches long, 

 which is the size of the European mole. The fur is like velvet, and of a silvery brown, almost 

 hhek ; the snout and palms arc of a pinkish flesh-color. Sometimes these creatures are seen 

 running rapidly along on the ground, but soon dive into one of the openings of their burrows. 

 Although frequently perforating new paths, they still have galleries which are permanent avenues, 

 in some of which they have soft nests of dried grass and leaves for their young. When two 

 rival moles meet, they sidle up at each other like two pigs, and after a short tussle one gets the 

 better of the other, and punishes him with his teeth. 



The period of activity for this little creature is the warm season. It does not become abso- 

 lutely torpid in winter, but seems only to live a more retired and sedentary life at that period. 

 Though it- scientific name of aquatint* indicates that it is of aquatic habits, such is not the Ci 

 as its whole life is spent on the land. This is one of those names given under mistake, and per- 



rered in because it has become common. 



This species is found from Canada to the Southern States. Four others are known; — the 

 Black-clawed Shrew-Mole, S. JEneus, is of a brassy brown, and is almost as brilliant as the 

 chrysochloris : it is found in Oregon. The Silvery Shrew-Mole, S. argentatus, greatly resem- 

 bling the S. aquaticus, though marly twice as large, is found in Michigan. Townsend's Siikku 

 Moil. S. Townsendii, is equal in size to the preceding, but has eight more teeth than the S. 

 aquaticus, and is found in Oregon. The Texan Shrew-Mole, S. latimanus, is found in Mexico 

 and 'I Brewer's Shkkw-Mulk, S. /Jmnri, is a little larger than the S. aquaticus, and is 



ofa glossy, cinereous, black color. Under the breast there is a slight tinge of brown. Itisfound 



from Massachusetts to Virginia. 



THE COXDYLURES. 



Genus CONDYLURE: Condylura. — Of this there is but a single species, the Star-nosed 

 Moi k. 67. cristata, distinguished for its star-like, membraneous process on the nose. It is 

 confined to North America, and is thinly scattered over the country from Hudson's Bay to 



