Fes., 1912. Mammats oF ILLInois AnD WIsconsIN— Cory. 443 
situated in a large excavation under a stump. The old ones had made 
their escape, and we endeavored to preserve the young; but the want 
of proper nourishment caused their death in a couple of days.’’* 
A nest found by Dr. Merriam is described as being about two feet 
beneath the surface in clay soil and under a stump. ‘It was com- 
posed of grass, and from it a passage led to a vegetable garden near 
by” (i. ¢., p. 1§1). 
The food of the Star-nosed Mole is apparently about the same as 
that of the Prairie Mole. It lives largely upon insects and worms, 
but like the common species will eat Mice and meat in captivity. 
Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton gives an interesting account of the 
habits of a captive animal of this species. He says: 
“On July 7, 1909, at Cos Cob, Conn., I received an adult male 
Star-nosed Mole captured alive by a stream, not in the water, but 
running along a mossy bank. 
“With the help of a commodious cage I made a number of observa- 
tions. When put in deep water he swam swiftly and strongly. He 
progressed largely by the skulling action of his tail, but also swam with 
all four feet, striking alternately, never by striking with both hind-feet 
at once, as most truly aquatic quadrupeds do occasionally. He did 
not dive, and always endeavored to get out of the water as quickly as 
possible. * * * 
“Tn the middle of each day he curled up and slept for two or three 
hours. At night he was very active. 
“When given a pile of loose earth in which were many worms he 
showed great delight, and dived again and again through the pile, 
sometimes coming out with a worm, and suggested an Otter diving ina 
salmon river. * * * 
“As soon as the above-named captive was caged, I gave him 12 
grammes of common worms. He paid no heed for half an hour, but 
then aroused himself and fell on the worms with great demonstration, 
continually twiddling them with his 22 nose-fingers. Though avid, he 
ate them slowly, holding them with his fore-claws and tearing them up 
before devouring. In half an hour all were gone. This was at noon; 
at 1:45 he seemed ravenous again. I gave him a similar amount of 
worms, also 3 cutworm grubs; these latter he ignored while the former 
lasted. Towards night I gave the Mole about 2 ounces of raw beef, 
of which 14 only was lean, the rest fat. In the morning all the lean was 
eaten and all the fat rejected. 
“Now a newly killed Deer-mouse was offered to him. He sprang 
on this with much demonstration and little effect. After twiddling it 
* Quadrupeds of N. Amer., II, 1851, pp. 141-142. 
