TALPIDjE 631 



wards, and each with five subequal digits armed with strong flattened 

 claws. The hind feet arc long and narrow, and the toes are pro- 

 vided with slender claws. The hody is densely covered with soft, 

 erect, velvety fur, the hairs being uniform in length and thickness, 

 except on the muzzle and short tail. The colour of the fur is 

 generally black, with a more or less grayish tinge, or brownish-black, 

 but various paler shades up to pure white have been observed. 



The food of the Mole consists chiefly of the earth-worm, in 

 pursuit of which it forms its well-known underground excavations. 

 Its habits were many years ago studied and described by M. Henri 

 le Court. Like many other mammals, the Mole has a lair to which 

 it may retire for security. This consists of a central nest formed 

 under a hillock, placed in some protected situation, as under a bank, 

 or between the roots of trees. The nest, which is lined with dried 

 grass or leaves, communicates with the main run by four passages, 

 of which only one joins it directly, leading downwards for a short 

 distance and then ascending again. The other three are directed 

 upwards and communicate at regular intervals with a circular 

 gallery constructed in the upper part of the hillock, which in turn 

 communicates by five passages leading downwards and outwards 

 with another much larger gallery placed lower down on a level 

 with the central nest, from which passages proceed outwards in 

 different directions, one only communicating directly Avith the main 

 run, while the others, curving round, either soon join or end blindly. 

 The main run is somewhat wider than the animal's body ; its walls 

 are smooth, and formed of closely compressed earth, the depth 

 varying according to the nature of the soil, but ordinarily from 4 

 to 6 inches. Along this tunnel the animal passes backwards and 

 forwards several times daily, and here traps are laid by mole-catchers 

 for its capture. From the main run numerous passages are formed 

 on each side, along which the animal hunts its prey, throwing 

 out the soil in the form of mole -hills. The Mole is one of the 

 most voracious of mammals, and, if deprived of food, is said to die 

 in from ten to twelve hours. Almost any kind of flesh is eagerly 

 devoured by captive Moles, which have been seen by various 

 observers, as if maddened by hunger, to attack animals nearly as 

 large as themselves, such as birds, lizards, frogs, and even snakes ; 

 toads, however, they will not touch, and no form of vegetable food 

 attracts their notice. If two Moles be confined together without 

 food, the weaker is invariably devoured by the stronger. Moles 

 take readily to the water, in which respect they resemble their 

 representatives on the North American continent. Bruce, writing- 

 in 1793, remarks that he saw a Mole paddling towards a small 

 island in the Loch of Clunie, 180 yards from land, on which he 

 noticed mole-hills. 



The sexes come together about the second week in March, and 



