10 
STRANGE DWELLINGS . 
The Shrew Mole of North America (» Scalops aquaticus ), is 
one of the best burrowers among this family, scarcely yielding to 
the mole itself in the extent of the tunnels which it excavates. 
Like the mole, it drives its burrows below the surface of the 
ground, throws up hillocks at intervals, and feeds chiefly on 
earthworms. The eyes of this creature are very minute, and 
deeply hidden in the soft fur. Unlike the mole, however, it is 
in the constant habit of coming to the surface of the ground, 
and passing into the full blaze of the noontide sun. At that 
time of day the animal may be caught by driving a spade under 
it, so as to cut off its retreat, and by flinging it to some distance 
from its tunnel. 
Mr. Peale mentions that a Shrew Mole in his possession was 
able to bend the snout to such an extent as to force food into 
its mouth. The European mole, flexible as is its mobile snout, 
possesses no such power, but is obliged to perform that task 
with its fore paws. 
Then, there is the Elephant Shrew of Southern Africa 
( Macro sceiides typicus ), a thick-furred, long-snouted, short-eared 
burrower, which has a rather remarkable method of sinking its 
tunnels, first boring a nearly perpendicular shaft, and then 
driving its burrow at an angle. It is not so devoted to a sub- 
terranean existence as either of the preceding animals, and loves 
to come out of its burrow and bask in the genial sunbeams. It 
is, however, as wary as the rest of its kindred, and at the least 
alarm darts off to its subterranean fastnesses. While basking 
in the warm rays, it generally sits erect, facing the sun, so as to 
receive every ray. 
Our last example of the Shrews is the remarkable animal 
which is popularly called the Musk Rat (Myogalea moschata ), 
though it is an insectivorous animal, and far removed from the 
rodents. The river Wolga is the favourite resort of this curious 
quadruped, which seems to hate dry land as much as the beaver, 
and to spend the greater part of its time in the water. The 
Musk Rat is an admirable burrower, making its tunnels of con- 
siderable length, some of them extending to a distance of 
twenty feet. There is only one entrance, which is always below 
