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in burrows constructed under ground, and the nest is in many 

 cases placed underneath a decayed stump. I have excavated 

 a number of burrows and have found in some instances a 

 nicely constructed nest of broken up leaves. Numbers of 

 snail shells were found in some of the burrows, the bottoms 

 of the shells having been eaten away and the tenant missing, 

 presumably devoured by the shrews. They probably breed 

 quite late in the season, or else have several litters, as two 

 females which I opened on May 27, 1898, contained half- 

 grown embryos. 



Scalops aquaticus {Linn.). Naked-tailed Mole. Common 

 Mole. Ground Mole. 



This quiet subterranean dweller is abundant in all parts of 

 the county and makes his presence known by his ' hills ' or 

 ' tracks ' which are thrown up in the gardens and lawns. The 

 mole displays his greatest activity during the early hours of 

 morning and evening or soon after a shower succeeding a 

 prolonged draught. Although he is strictly insectivorous 

 in his diet and therefore a friend to the agriculturist, the 

 methods he uses to procure his food render him a pest, and 

 as such his life is generally sought for by the gardner. 



A female which I opened on April 24, 1898, contained 

 four half-grown embryos. 



Condylura cristata {Linn.). Star-nosed Mole. 



This species of mole is not nearly so common in the county 

 as the preceding and is confined chiefly to low swampy situa- 

 tions. 



I have never taken a specimen in the neighborhood of 

 Hastings, but have seen several from the vicinity of the Fair 

 Grounds near White Plains, where the land is flat and damp. 



