Lake Umbagog
1896
Aug. 11
(No 2)
eyes although minute did not lack expression but on
the contrary twinkled and apparently moved, also, as I looked
into them. [I afterwards identified the specimen as Brewer's Mole]
[margin]A curious
Mole
(Parascalops
breweri)[/margin]
  I have rarely seen a more awkward swimmer than this
curious Mole. It reminded me of a puppy thrown into
a pool for the first time as it beat the water with its large
outturned front feet sending jets of spray up into the air
and working but little progress. It seemed incapable of keeping
a straight course but on the contrary moved in zig-zags
and large, irregular circles. It floated too lightly, however, 
to be in any danger of drowning and after ten or twelve
minutes of incessant struggling it reached the belt of
aquatic vegetation on the further shore and scrambled out
on a water lily leaf to rest. I had followed it closely all
the while and now slipping the blade of my paddle under
it lifted it into the canoe. It found congenial shelter 
under a large sponge in the foreward hutch & remained there
quietly enough as long as day light lasted but in the
evening as I was paddling home it began moving about
making a good deal of noise. Next morning I found
it under the sponge which, during, the night, it had cut
into fine pieces. I tried to get it into a small box but
it eluded me and crawled for forward under the deck
where I could not reach it & where it now remains.
(On the evening of the 12th I caught the Mole and put him into
a large tin pail half full of fresh loam. It was a revelation
to see him in his proper element. He literally dove into & swam
through it moving with as much ease & nearly as rapidly as a Musk
rat would move through the water marking his course as he circled round
the pail by the slight heaving of the earth. Every now & then he would
burst up through the earth and run across or around the pail before disappearing
again which he did with marvelous quickness & grace first thrusting his snout
& fore paws into the earth & then with a single convulsive effort plunging out of
sight. After sounding his earth pond many times he began trying to climb up the
side of the pail keeping at it persistently until I went to bed. Next morning he lay
dead on the surface of the earth & I skinned him.)