216 UTILITY OF THE COMMON MOLE. 



leading to a lower circular gallery of a greater diameter on a level with 

 the centre of the chamber; and from this lower chamber issue eight or 

 ten other passages leading to different parts of the surrounding land, 

 which forms its hunting ground. In forming the main road the Mole 

 regulates its depth according to the solidity of the surrounding soil, and 

 any obstacles, as a road or ditch, that it may have to pass, its depth 

 is there considerably increased; but under ordinary circumstances it rarely 

 exceeds four or five inches. It also pays considerable attention to the 

 proper ventilation of its runs, by leaving small holes for the admission 

 of air. Its time of labour is at an early hour in the morning, yet if 

 everything is quiet it may be observed at work during the day-time, but 

 the slightest sound or movement stops the work. The temperature or 

 dryness of the air regulates its motions, as to the depth of which it 

 lives or works; this is from its inability to bear cold and thirst, but 

 chiefly from the necessity it is under in following its prey, which always 

 descends as cold increases. In frosty weather both worms and Moles are 

 deeper in the ground than in the summer season, and both seem to be 

 sensible of an approaching change to warm weather before there are 

 perceptible signs of it in the atmosphere. When it is observed, 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 shortly be expec- 

 ted. The Mole sleeps more in winter than it does in summer, but it 

 does not become torpid, as some Naturalists have asserted; in fact its 

 appetite is such, as we have before stated, that it cannot wait any length 

 of time without food. Its hunger amounts almost to a degree of frenzy, 

 and when under its influence it is violently agitated, and throws itself on 

 its prey as if maddened with rage. 



The Mole has more enemies than it is supposed to have, for though 

 its disappearance from a district is sometimes due to emigration, there 

 are other causes at work to account for their extirpation. They destroy 

 each other in their burrows, for they are exceedingly quarrelsome, the 

 fox and weazel, too, are formidable enemies; but the ceaseless war waged 

 against them by man, the least excusable enemy they have, is the most 

 destructive. It may be observed, that where no efforts have been made 

 to destroy them they do not increase beyond a given number, which 

 varies according to the supply of food, and that their frequent destruction 

 by encouraging the increase of the creatures which are their food, aids 

 indirectly in augmenting their numbers. The female generally brings forth 

 from three to six young, some time in April, May, or June; in the 

 latter month we have frequently found them. The nest is composed of 

 dry grass, old dry leaves, and slender roots. 



Varieties of the Mole are frequently found, such as pale yellowish orange, 



