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Brewer's Mole

Also called: Hairy-tailed Mole.

Images coming soon.

Length
5.80 inches.
Description
Dark gray, tail blackish and thickly haired, rather longer than that of the preceding; nose and hands similar.
Range
Northern North America, south to the mountains of New Jersey and the Alleghanies.

This is a distinctly northern animal, occurring for the most part above the range of the common mole. Its habits seem to be essentially similar to those of the latter species, though, according to Prof. Baird, it constructs its burrows at a greater distance below the surface of the ground. Dr. Merriam, who found it common on the edge of the Adirondack wilderness, though not in the coniferous forests, says: "Its habits, so far as I am aware, resemble those of its nearest relative (Scalops aquaticus), except that its mounds do not contain a chamber and surface-opening, and its galleries are usually made a little deeper. Like this species, it is most common in dry meadow lands, while the star-nosed is usually found in moist and swampy places. It is not known to indulge in the little 'noonday excursions' which are characteristic of the last-named species."

On the Pennsylvania Alleghanies this mole occurs in company with various other northern animals and birds, which find there, in the higher altitude, the same congenial conditions of environment that prevail at lower levels much farther north.