American Moles. 



5 



parently not proceeded so far in the Townsend mole, which usually 

 opens its eyes when annoyed by an observer. 



HABITS. 



The mole lives mostly underground. Such experiences as fall to 

 its lot must necessarily come through its sensitive touch, acute hear- 

 ing, or highly developed powers of smell. While the animal is 



BS7IM: B570M. 



Fig. 2. — Comparison of mole and a member of the rodent order (pine mouse). Broad, 

 rounded hands turned outward, pointed snout, and practical absence of eyes serve to 

 distinguish the mole from mice, rats, and other rodonts. 



seldom seen above ground, it sometimes ventures out of its tunnels, 

 perhaps chiefly at night, since skulls and other remains of moles 

 are occasionally found about the nesting places of owls. 



RUNWAYS AND NESTS. 



When a mole is living in lawns, gardens, or fields, it is not adept 

 at concealing the evidences of its presence. Telltale ridges (see 

 title-page illustration) or conspicuous mounds (fig. 4) of earth 



