SCALOl'S AQUATICUS. I 63 



able odor, which at certain seasons becomes exceedingly rank and 

 nauseous. 



SCALOPS AQUATICUS (i>i»»-) ^"'^^^'<^'- 

 Shrew Mole. 



This species is not common about the borders of the Adirondacks, 

 and is seldom if ever found within the evergreen forests, though it 

 sometimes finds the way to the frontier setder's garden. 



Its specific name, aguaticus, like many others in Zoological nomen- 

 clature, has been unfortunately chosen and has no bearing on* the 

 habits of the animal ; for not only is the Shrew Mole not known 

 voluntarily to swim, but in the selection of its haunts it shows no 

 preference for the vicinity of water, but manifests rather a contrary 



tendency. 



Its home is underground, and its entire lifetime is spent beneath 

 the surface. Its food consists almost wholly of earth-worms, grubs, 

 ants, and other insects that live in the earth and under logs and 

 stones It is almost universally regarded as an enemy to the farmer, 

 and is commonly destroyed whenever opportunity affords ; for, not- 

 withstanding the fact that it subsists upon insects that injure the 

 crops, it is nevertheless true that, in the procurement of these, it 

 disfigures the garden paths and beds, by the ridges and litde mounds 

 of earth that mark the course of its subterranean galleries, and loosens 

 and injures many choice plants in its probings for grubs amongst 

 their roots. 



The strength of the Shrew Mole is simply prodigious, for an 

 animal of its diminutive size, and the speed with which it forces 

 itself throucrh the eround is marvellous. Audubon and Bachman, 

 Speaking of one they had in confinement, state : '' We afterwards put 

 the Mole into a large wire rat-trap, and to our surprise saw him in- 

 sert his fore-paws or hands, between the wires, and force them apart 

 sufficiendy to give him room to pass out through them at once, and 



