50 animals in 3ienageries. 



The Shrew Mole. 



Scalops Canadensis, Cuv. Sorex aquaticus, Linn. Musarayne- 

 taupe, Cuvier. Scalope de Canada, ditto. Brown Rat, 

 Pennant. 



This curious American animal, -which closely re- 

 sembles the European mole, not only bears confine- 

 ment, but seems to become, under a kind master_, a 

 very domestic little creature. Dr. Richardson '*, on 

 the authority of Dr. Godman, particularly alludes to 

 one which was domesticated by Mr. T. Peale of Phi- 

 ladelphia : it devoured considerable quantities of fresh 

 meat either cooked or raw, drank freely, and was 

 remarkably active and playful. The eyes, like those 

 of the mole, are so extremely minute, that Dr. Godman 

 positively says that, in the fresh animal, the aperture 

 in the skin is just big enough to admit the passage 

 of an ordinary human — hair ! Yet, notwithstanding this 

 deprivation of sight, Mr. Peale's favourite would follow 

 the hand of its master ; an exquisite sense of smell sup- 

 plying the want of vision. It was fond of burrowing 

 for a short distance in the loose earth; and after making 

 a small circle, w^ould return for more food. When en- 

 gaged in eating, it employed its flexible snout in a 

 singular manner to thrust its food into the mouth, — 

 doubling it so as to force it directly backw^ards. In a 

 state of nature, these animals are most active early in 

 the morning, at mid- day, and in the evening. They 

 are well known to have the remarkable custom of coming 

 daily to the surface exactly at noon; at such times they 

 mav be taken alive, by thrusting a spade beneath them 

 and throwing them on the surface. In their general habits 

 they resemble the common European moles, — leading, 

 like them, a subterraneous life, forming galleries, 

 throwing up little hillocks, and feeding principally on 

 earthw^orms and grubs. 



The length is rather more than seven inches. The 

 fur resembles that of the common mole, and is nearly 

 of a uniform brownish black. 



* Northern Zool. i. 12. 



