14 QUADRUPEDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



thick herbage, or in a hole in a bank. From the fact, that in the 

 summer many are found dead without any external injury, it is sup- 

 posed that an annual mortality prevails among them. It is sug- 

 gested, however, that it may arise from a deficiency of food pro- 

 duced in a dry season by the escape of worms on which they 

 feed, either deep in the earth, or into the more distant moist 

 places. 



The Shrews are extremely expert in the water, darting over 

 its surface, or diving to the bottom with the greatest agility. 

 While in the pursuit of their food, the least noise or motion dis- 

 turbs them, when they escape instantly into their holes in the 

 bank. In the specimens of Sorex which have fallen under my 

 observation, I have not been able to discover, even with the 

 microscope, any nostrils, the termination, or the extremity, of the 

 nose being apparently an imperforate membrane. 



FAMILY III. TALPIDAE. The Mole Family. 



Characters of the family. The animal known as the Mole, 

 may be considered as the type of the family. The most essen- 

 tial characters are derived from the feet and teeth. In the Sori- 

 cidae, the feet are formed for running, but in the Talpidae for 

 digging ; and so perfect is their construction, that they are enabled 

 to make their way in the earth with great rapidity. The means 

 of subsistence in both families are much the same ; their favorite 

 food consisting of earth-worms and insects, which they require 

 almost constantly ; hence their toil is necessarily unremitted, and 

 the animal is constantly engaged in burrowing in search of a con- 

 stant supply. 



The Soricidae, by the structure of their feet, are much better 

 formed for dwelling on the surface, w r hile the Talpidae are almost 

 entirely prevented from moving except in their burrows. This 

 family embraces three genera, the Talpa. or true mole, which has 

 not yet been discovered in the United States, the Scalops and the 

 Condylura. The Scalops has no canine teeth, whereas the Talpa 

 has two in each jaw, and the Condylura two in the upper only. 

 In each genus, the fore feet are palmate ; the fingers are short, 

 and are supplied with long and slightly arcuate nails, admirably 

 adapted to the removal of earth, and the making subterranean 



