THE COMMON MOLE OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



3 



There are no ^'mole hills '' in this country, such as are referred to in 

 discussions of the European mole. 



The nest of the mole is usually in a chamber 4 or 5 inches in diame- 

 ter and about a foot beneath the surface. In all cases that have 

 come under the writer's observation the materials of the nest consist 

 mainly of closely cropped pasture grasses with the fine fibrous roots 

 attached. It is probable that this grass stubble was pulled down by 

 the roots into the upper surface burrows and then carried to the 

 nesting chambers. When located near trees the nests sometimes 

 consist of leaves mixed with grass. 



Fig. 2.— Showing the mole's method of repairing runways. Lower right-hand fork not repaired. 



Certain galleries or passages leading out from the deeper central 

 system trend upward here and there to join the shallow subsurface 

 runs that range over the mole's hunting grounds. These hunting 

 paths produce the ridges with which we are familiar in our lawns, 

 gardens, and fields. Beneath these ridges the little animal hurries 

 along at irregular intervals in search of food, and when occasion de- 

 mands, it extends the limits of its operations by pushing out into 

 untouched soil. As it extends the subsurface runways its movement 

 is almost literally one of swimming. With powerful action of the 

 heavy shoulder muscles the hands are brought forward, palms out- 

 ward, until they almost or quite touch in front of the snout. They 

 are then thrust outward and backward to push the soil aside, while 

 the body follows in the passageway thus created. 



