Identifier: birdsnature521899chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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led with aquatic plants and thebanks of which are shaded by the densefoliage of trees; and it constructs moreor less complicated burrows in thebanks. A tunnel about eighteen feetlong terminates in a large chamber,both the chamber and its approachesbeing strewn with dry aquatic plants.The chamber usually has two entrances,one below the surfaceof the water, andthe other about twelve inches above. The duck moles are seen at all timesin the rivers of Australia, especiallyduring the spring and summer. Theyemerge from their retreats at dusk,though they sometimes also appear inthe day time, searching for food.When the water is clear, the observercan follow with the eye the move-ments of the animal as it dives and re-appears above the surface. It likes tostay near the shore, amidst the mud,searching for its food between the rootsof the plants, where insects abound.The moUusks which it captures in itsforays it stores temporarily in its cheek-pouches and then consumes them atgreater leisure. 80
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On a beautiful summer evening,says Bennett, I approached a smallriver in Australia, and as I knew thepredilection of the duck mole for thehour of dusk, I tried to obtain aglimpse of one. With a constantgrasp on our guns, we patiently stoodon the shore. It was not long beforewe saw a black object appear near uson the top of the water, the head be-ing raised but little above the surface.We stood motionless, lest we shouldscare the animal, carefully observingand following its movements, for onemust be ready to shoot just as the duckmole reappears after diving. Only ashot in the head is effective, as theloose, thick fur will not allow a bulletto penetrate it readily. We woundedone which gave evidence of severe in-jury and sank immediately, but soonrose again. When the dog brought itto us we found it to be a fine male.Several minutes after it had beenbrought out of the water it apparentlyrevived, and, instantly rising to its feet,staggered toward the river. Abouttwenty-five minutes later i

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