88 COMMON AMERICAN SHREW MOLE. 



of Natural History, observed in company with an old servant of the familyj, 

 a Shrew Mole in the act of swallowing, or devouring, a common toad — this 

 was accomplished by the Mole, and he was then killed, being unable to 

 escape after such a meal, and was taken to the house, when Mv. Hammond 

 saw and examined the animal, "s^dth the toad partially protruding from its 

 throat. This gentleman also related to us some time ago, that he once 

 witnessed an engagement between two Moles, that happened to encounter 

 each other, in one of the noon-day excursions, this species is so much in 

 the habif of making. The combatants sidled up to one another 

 like two little pigs, and each tried to root the other over, in attempt- 

 ing which, their efforts so much resembled the manner of two boars 

 fighting, that the whole affair was supremelj^ ridiculous to the beholder, 

 although no doubt to either of the bold warriors, the consequences of an 

 overthrow would have been a very serious affair ; and the conqueror, 

 w^ould vent his rage upon the fallen hero, and punish him severely with 

 his sharp teeth. We have no doubt these conflicts generally take place 

 in the love season, and are caused by rivalrj-, and that some " fair Mole " 

 probably rewards the victor. When approached, the Moles attempted to 

 escape, but were both shot on the spot, thus falling victims to their own 

 passions ; and if we would read aright, affording us an instructive lesson, 

 either as individuals, or in a national point of view. 



The Shrew Moles are able to work their way so rapidly, that in soft or 

 loamy soil, it is almost impossible for the most active man to overtake and 

 turn them out with a spade, unless he can see the spot where they are 

 w^orking, by the movement of the earth, in which case they can be thro"mi 

 out easily, by sticking the spade in front of them, or at one side of their 

 gallery and ■with a quick movement tossing them on to the surface. 



They have been kno'«Ti to make a fresh track, after rain, during one 

 night, several hundred j-ards in length — oftentimes they proceed for a 

 considerable distance, in nearly a straight or direct line, then suddenlj- be- 

 gin to excavate around and across a small space of not more than a few^ 

 feet in diameter, until jou could hardl)' place your foot on a spot within 

 this subterranean labyrinth, without sinking through into their track ; at 

 this time they are most probably in pursuit of worms, or other food, ■which 

 may be there imbedded. 



Although cold weather appears to us, to put a stop to the movements of 

 the Mole, we do not feel by any means certain that such is the case ; and 

 very probably the hardness of the ground when frozen, and the depth at 

 which the Mole is then obliged to seek his food, may be a sufficient reason 

 for our seeing no traces of this busy creature's movements during cold 

 winter weather. We have, however, often perceived their tracks after a 



