COMMON AMERICAN SHREW MOLE. 87 



whose nest I discovered, whicli was alwaj's repaired within a short time, 

 as often as destroyed. It was an oval cavity, about five or seven inches 

 in length, by three in breadth, and was placed at about eight inches from 

 the surface in a stiff clay. The entrance to it sloped obliquely down\vards 

 from the gallery about two inches from the surface ; three times I entire- 

 ly exposed this cell, by cutting out the whole superincumbent clay with a 

 knife, and three times a similar one was made a little bej'ond the situa- 

 tion of the former, the excavation having been continued from its back 

 part. I paid a visit to the same spot two months after capturing its occu- 

 pant, and breaking up the cell, all the injuries were found to be repaired, 

 and another excavated within a few inches of the old one. Most probably 

 numerous individuals, composing a whole family, reside together in these 

 extensive galleries. In the winter they burrow closer to the streams, 

 where the ground is not so deeply frozen." 



This species whilst beneath the earth's surface, seems to search for 

 food with the same activity and untiring perseverance that are observable 

 in animals that seek for their provender above ground. It works through 

 the earth, not only in a straight-forward direction, but loosens it to the 

 right and left, beneath and above, so that no Avorm or insect can escape 

 it. When in contact with any one of the objects of which it has been in 

 search, it seizes it Avith remarkable quickness both with its fore-feet and 

 its sharp teeth, drawing itself immediately backward with its prize, upon 

 which it begins to prey at once. The Shrew Mole passes through loose 

 soil, with nearlj^ the same ease and speed that it displaj^s in running, or 

 " scrabbling" along above ground. It moves backward almost as rapidly 

 as it goes forward. The nose is often seen protruded above the surface 

 of the ground. 



The snout of this species although apparently delicate, is most power- 

 fully muscular, as well as flexible ; the animal can turn it to the right or 

 left, upward or downward, and at times inserts it in its mouth, as if for 

 the purpose of cleansing it, and then suddenly withdraws it with a kind of 

 smack of its lips ; this habit we observed three times in the course of a few 

 minutes. The Shre'vv Mole is exceedingly tenacious of life ; it cannot 

 easily be put to death, either by heavy pressure or strangling, and a severe 

 blow on the head seems to be the quickest mode of despatching it. 



Although this species, as we have seen, feeds principally on worms, 

 grubs, &c., we have the authority of our friend Ogden Hammond, Esq., for 

 the following example either of a most singular perversity of taste, or of 

 habits hitherto totally unknown as appertaining to animals of this genus, 

 and meriting a farther inquiry. While at his estate near Throg's Neck, 

 on Long Island Sound, his son, who is an intelligent young lad, and fond 



