1 56 MAMMALIA. 



abundance of some favorite food— perhaps a colony of grubs feeding 

 upon the roots of the grass. 



When the Shrew Mole encounters a rock, or an old log or stump, 

 in the course of his subterranean wanderings, instead of avoiding it, 

 he takes great pains to burrow beneath, making extensive excavations 

 in contact with its under surface. The reason is obvious, for he 

 knows as well as we do that in such places are to be found many 

 earth-worms, slugs, ants with their eggs, and other tender insects. 



It is not probable that the remoter secondary galleries are traversed 

 more than a few times, for the animal makes new ones every day ; 

 but the primary passages which lead to the nest are in constant use, 

 and are always kept in repair. In this connection Dr. Godman, whose 

 biography of this species is the most complete and accurate we 

 possess, observes : " It is remarkable how unwilling they are to re- 

 linquish a long frequented burrow ; I have frequently broken down 

 or torn off the surface of the same burrow for several days in succes- 

 sion, but would always find it repaired at the next visit. This was 

 especially the case with one individual whose nest I discovered, which 

 was always repaired within a short time, as often as destroyed.- It 

 was an oval cavity, about six or seven inches in length by three in 

 breadth, and was placed at about eight inches from the surface in a 

 stiff clay. The entrance to it sloped obliquely downwards from the 

 common gallery, about two inches from the surface ; three times I 

 entirely exposed this cell by cutting out the whole .superincumbent 

 clay with a knife, and three times a similar one was made a litde 

 beyond the situation of the former, the excavation having been con- 

 tinued from its back part. I paid a visit to the same spot two months 

 after capturing its occupant, and breaking up the nest, all the injuries 

 were found to be repaired, and another excavated within a few inches 

 of the old one. Most probably numerous individuals, composing a 

 whole family, reside together in these extensive galleries." He 

 further says : " Shrew-moles are most active early in the morning. 

 at mid-day, and in the evening ; after rains they are particularly busy 



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