78 Zoologij. 



seldom eat tliem, unless pressed by hunger. In the north this animal is 

 called the foumart, and sometimes whitret, as if white rat. — J. M. 



The weasel's tenacious reluctance to relinquish its young and its prey is 

 noticed by <Sc61opax rusticola in his article " On the Habits of the Weasel," 

 Vol.1 V. p. 337.; and some highly interesting particulars on the habits of this 

 animal are given by W. L., Vol. III. p. 234. — J, D. 



The Mole shows Changes of Weather ^ Sfc. — Jan. 20. Mole (Talpa euro- 

 pae^a) works. It is remarkable that this animal sometimes gives notice of 

 a change of weather. The temperature or dryness of the air governs its 

 motions as to the depth at which it lives or works. This is partly from its 

 inability to bear cold or thirst, but chiefly from the necessity it is under of 

 following its natural food, the earthworm (Zumbricus terrestris), which 

 always descends as the cold or drought increases. In frosty weather, both 

 worms and moles are deeper in the ground than at other times, and both 

 seem to be sensible of an approaching change to warmer weather before 

 there are any perceptible signs of it in the atmosphere. When it is ob- 

 served, therefore, that moles are casting hills through openings in the frozen 

 turf, or through a thin covering of snow, a change to open weather may be 

 shortly expected. 



The cause of this appears to be as follows : — The natural heat of the 

 earth being for a time pent in by the frozen surface, accumulates below it ; 

 first incites to action the animals, thaws the frozen surface, and at length 

 escapes into the air, which it warms and softens; and if not counter- 

 balanced by a greater degree of cold in the atmosphere, brings about a 

 change. Changes from frosty to mild weather, caused by the ascent of 

 heat from the earth, are often' so evident, that the circumstance needs no 

 confirmation. Stronger proof, if proof were necessary, cannot be given than 

 the common appearance of frost or snow remaining longer upon ground 

 having a stratum of rock beneath, than upon that where there is none. Old 

 foundations of buildings, which have not been dug out, are easily traced by 

 the same appearance ; and any subterraneous solid body, as large stones, 

 drains, planks, or pieces of timber, may be discovered in the same way ; 

 and even a plank laid across a ditch at such times will remain covered 

 with snow for many hours after the snow on the ground is all melted and 

 gone. 



This sufficiently accounts for the activity of the mole before a change of 

 weather, and deserves to be noted by the meteorologist among his other 

 prognostics of the weather. 



The mole, though generally a despised and persecuted animal, is never- 

 theless useful in some degree to the husbandman, in being the natural 

 drainer of his land, and destroyer of worms. To other inferior animals he 

 is a sapper and miner, forming for them their safe retreats and well-secured 

 dormitories. — J. ilf. Jan. 20. 1831. 



Some very interesting remarks on the physiology and habits of the mole 

 will be found in our Vol. II. p. 420, 421. 



Do moles swim of choice ? I have known them prevail in an allotment 

 of land which was every where bounded by streams, except at the gateway 

 by which access was obtained. It is far more likely that the moles swam 

 to the allotment, than distinguished the gateway. — J. D. 



Uses of the Mole. — Agronome remarks. Vol. IV. p. 557., " Whatever 

 James Hogg may say in favour of moles, I am of opinion that they are 

 noxious vermin, and ought to be extirpated the kingdom." As some of 

 our readers may not be aware how much James Hogg has said on the sub- 

 ject, we present an extract : — " The most unnatural of all persecutions 

 that ever was raised in a country is that against the mole, that innocent 

 and blessed little pioneer who enriches our pastures annually with the first 

 top-dressing, dug with great pains and labour from the fattest of the soil 

 beneath. The advantages of this top-dressing are so apparent and so 



