STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



The Shrew Mole of North America {Scalops aquaticus)^ is 

 one of the best burrowers among this family, scarcely yielding to 

 the mole itself in the extent of the tunnels which it excavates. 

 Like the mole, it drives its burrows below the surface of the 

 ground, throws up hillocks at intervals, and feeds chiefly on 

 earthworms. The eyes of this creature are very minute, and 

 deeply hidden in the soft fur. Unlike the mole, however, it is 

 in the constant habit of coming to the surface of the ground, 

 and passing into the full blaze of the noontide sun. At that 

 time of day the animal may be caught by driving a spade under 

 it, so as to cut off its retreat, and by flinging it to some distance 

 from its tunnel. 



Mr. Peale mentions that a Shrew Mole in his possession was 

 able to bend the snout to such an extent as to force food into 

 its mouth. The European mole, flexible as is its mobile snout, 

 possesses no such power, but is obliged to perform that task 

 with its fore paws. 



Then, there is the Elephant Shrew of Southern Africa 

 {Macroscdides typiais)^ a thick-furred, long-snouted, short-eared 

 burrower, which has a rather remarkable method of sinking its 

 tunnels, first boring a nearly perpendicular shaft, and then 

 driving its burrow at an angle. It is not so devoted to a sub- 

 terranean existence as either of the preceding animals, and loves 

 to come out of its burrow and bask in the genial sunbeams. It 

 is, however, as wary as the rest of its kindred, and at the least 

 alarm darts off to its subterranean fastnesses. While basking 

 in the warm rays, it generally sits erect, facing the sun, so as to 

 receive every ray. 



Our last example of the Shrews is the remarkable animal 

 which is popularly called the Musk Rat {Myogalea moschata), 

 though it is an insectivorous animal, and far removed from the 

 rodents. The river Wolga is the favourite resort of this curious 

 quadruped, which seems to hate dry land as much as the beaver, 

 and to spend the greater part of its time in the water. The 

 Musk Rat is an admirable burrower, making its tunnels of con- 

 siderable length, some of them extending to a distance of 

 twenty feet. There is only one entrance, which is always below 



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