CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 4. INSECTIVORA. 
149 
the bottom of tlie chamber rmis another passage, Avhich descends for a certain distance and then 
rises again toward the surface, until it falls into the high road leading from the residence to the 
creature's hunting-ground; this also communicates Avith the lower gallery, and forms one of 
about nine tunnels, which issue from all parts of the latter, and which are said by the French 
naturalists to open again into the high road at various distances. 
The high road is much larger than any of the ordinary tunnels made by the mole in searching 
for his prey, which open out from it in various directions, and its object evidently is to give the 
animal a free and rapid communication with his fortress : in fact, an experiment performed in 
France proved that the speed with which a mole, when alarmed, traversed the course of his 
main tunnel was nearly equal to that of a horse at full trot. The depth at which the road is 
made varies according to circumstances : in ordinary situations, it is rarely more than four or five 
inches ; but in passing under a road, or any other place where it is exposed to much pressure, 
the auimal will carry its burrow to the depth of a foot or more. 
While burrowing in search of food, the mole frequently comes to the surface, where it makes 
an opening, and through this the earth, loosened in its excavations, is got rid of; it forms the little 
heaps well known in the fields and meadows as mole-hills. It is a most voracious animal, and a 
vevy short fast is fatal to it ; in fact, when two individuals in captivity are not sufficiently sup- 
plied with food, the .weaker is always killed and devoured by the stronger one. In winter, the 
mole continues active, but in severe weather, usually seeks its food at a greater depth in the 
ground ; in the summer, on the contrary, it frequently quits its abode at night, and hunts for 
insects and worms on the surface. It swims well, and often takes to the water, sometimes for 
self-preservation when its retreats are invaded by floods, sometimes in changing its abode when 
its course is stopped by a rivulet, and occasionally, according to some writers, for the mere pleas- 
ure of taking a bath. It is a fierce little creature, and bites severely when incautiously seized. 
The males also have sanguinary and fatal combats in the season of their amours. 
THE COMMON SHREW-MOLE. 
THE SCALOPS, OR SHREW-MOLES. 
Genus SCALOPS. — The family of Scalops, or Shreiv-Moles^ belongs exclusively to North 
America. In their dentition they are closely allied to the shreAvs and desmans, and in their form 
and habits to the true moles. The latter animals are not found in the United States ; the shrew- 
