146 A NATURALIST ON THE "CHALLENGER. 



reason why the one set should be the true moles rather than the 

 other, excepting merely as a matter of home nomenclature and 

 prejudice. The South American Eodent mole, the "tucutuco" 

 (Ctenomijs), is familiar as described by Darwin in his Journal. 

 And besides this, there are all the Spalacini, or Blind-moles, of 

 which there are nine genera, including Bathyergus and Georychus, 

 forming steps towards the ground squirrels, Geomys. 



Of the true moles, or Insectivora, with the habits and outward 

 shape of Bathyergus and Georychus, there are only five or six 

 genera in all. Why should not Talpa be looked upon as the 

 plagiarist ? There is still another very different animal, with 

 mole-like habits, the little armadillo (Chlamyphorus) of the 

 Argentine Eepublic. It seems remarkable that no Marsupial in 

 Australia has become modified to suit mole-like habits. All 

 other Mammalian habits almost have been adopted by Mar- 

 supials. Bathyergus has, like our Talpa, a bare snout, and strong 

 diomnor bands and feet. It burrows of course in search of roots 

 and vegetable food only, not for worms like Talpa. 



The people about Simons Town have an idea that the animals 

 work the earth at certain stated hours, and have regular periods 

 of rest ; but I was always able, by going over a good deal of 

 ground, to find one working at any time of the day. The heaps 

 thrown up are huge, a foot high, five or six times as big as those 

 of our little mole. A fresh heap is betrayed at once by its 

 darker colour, i.e., its dampness ; in a few hours the dry heat of 

 the Cape reduces it to a glistening white. 



One has not long to watch, standing a few yards off, before 

 the fresh heap is seen to heave up, three or four times in suc- 

 cession, as the mole forces freshly scooped-out earth up into it 

 from below. I tried at first shooting into the heap as it was 

 thus heaving, in the hopes of getting the mole, but never with 

 any success. In order to shoot the worker, the earth should be 

 quickly thrown back from the fresh heap, and the hole laid open 

 to the air. 



One then has only to retire about ten paces and wait pa- 

 tiently. The mole does not like the fresh air, and in the course 

 of five minutes or so, comes back to fill it up, but usually puts 

 its head out for a moment first, to find out what's up, though it 



