MAMMALIA— MOLE. 101 



winter as well as in summer, we have only to view the traces it leaves upon, 

 the snow. As for the mole, so far is it from sleeping during the winter 

 that it continues its subterranean operations then as well as in summer* 

 and the peasants of France even proverbially remark, that, " when moles are 

 at work, a thaw is at hand." They are indeed fond of warm places ; and 

 the gardeners often catch them round their beds, in the months of Decem- 

 ber, January, and February. In pasture lands, and in nurseries of forest 

 trees, they do considerable mischief. In 1740, M. Buffon planted sixteen 

 acres with acorns, the greater part of which were speedily carried away 

 by the moles. Not less than a bushel of acorns was found in some of 

 their burrows. The common mole of Europe is supposed not to inhabit 

 America. 



THE SHREW MOLEi 



Is found in abundance in North America, from Canada to Virginia. It lives 

 principally under ground, in which it burrows with great quickness, by- 

 means of its strong and broad hands, armed with sharp claws. These bur- 

 rows are sometimes very deep, and hills of loose earth are generally found 

 over them. Sometimes one of these creatures shows his head from the 

 centre of one of the hills at mid-day, for the purpose of enjoying the sun- 

 shine. They form galleries under ground, by which they can travel in any 

 direction. It is said, that they come to the top of the ground daily, at 

 twelve o'clock. 



This animal is covered with a soft, glossy fur ; its head is destitute 

 of external ears, though its sense of hearing is very acute. The eyes 

 are so small as scarcely to be perceived. It has great strength and speed, 



1 Scalops Canadensis. The crenus Scalops has two incisors above and four below ; 

 tliree conical teeth, and three molars, on each side, in both jaws. Lower incisors conical, 

 straight, with two very small intermediate incisors ; first and third upper conical teeth on 

 each si le, lari^er than the second ; molars crowned with sharp tubercles; muzzle prolong- 

 ed an 1 cartilaGrinous ; eyes very small ; external ears, none ; feet short, pentadactyle, the 

 anterior very broad ; nails long,"flattened, proper for digging ; tail short. 



