a hard, flat point to be used exactly like a drill in boring his way 

 into the earth. Next the short but powerful fore limbs set in mo- 

 tion the broad flat feet, perhaps the most interesting feature of all. 

 Curiously like hands do they look, the palms always turned upward, 

 ready for work at shortest notice, and armed with five big claws, 

 marvelously quick at both chiseling and shoveling the soft sandy 

 surface in which their owner delights to tunnel. 



In one variety numerous in the eastern United States and found 

 especially in low swampy localities, the useful nose is adorned with 

 a peculiar tip, having some eighteen rays projecting from a common 

 center and giving the species the appropriate name of "star-nosed 

 mole" (condylura cristata). The fur of these different moles, al- 

 though so very small, is used quite extensively in the linings of the 

 most expensive garments. 



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