890 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



"Let us l)c;giii with the Insect-eaters and go under- 

 ground to Moletown. Tliis tiibe has a great many 

 different colonies scattered all over the earth, but the 

 residents of Moletown, that you are likely to see, will be 

 the Slirews or tlie Moles themselves. You would never 

 know by mere sight that these stujDid-looking, mouse- 

 colored animals, with round, furry bodies, small eyes, 

 and various kinds of shovel claws, belonged so high up 

 in the Mammal tree, but the Wise Men have placed 

 them thei'e because of their special features, some of 

 which j-ou could not possibly understand. 



" That the Mole was made to tunnel in the ground 

 and live in the dark, you can see for 3'ourselves very 

 easily. Take this picture and notice how strong and 

 powerful tlie head and fore parts of the body are com- 

 pared to tlie small hind legs. The arms are fastened 

 close to the short neck to take up as little side room as 

 possible in burrowing, while the hands are broad, heavy 

 shovels, flesh-colored inside and edged with five short 

 fingers. The pink nose is pointed and very sensitive, 

 the eyes small and so protected with skin that many 

 people think them wholly blind. The fur is short, soft, 

 of a beautiful silvery ash gray, darkening to lead color." 



"I remember the fur," said Dodo, "and how badly it 

 made my fingers smell when I tried to sew it, and you 

 said tlie smell protected the JMole. Do all the people 

 in jNIdlotown have this smell, Uncle Roy V " 



" Yes, our Moles and Shrews are so perfumed that 

 only a very huiigiy fourfoot will eat them, but Hawks 

 and Owls are not so particular. 



"Tlie Mule that you have often seen this summer 

 is the common species. He has a cousin hereabouts, 



