40 



MAMMALS. 



the mole Avorks throughout the year, its casts in winter 

 often showing through the snow.^ This lean animal diet — 

 for, like the hedgehog, the mole eats no vegetable food — 

 induces continuous thirst, to quench which the mole is 

 known to sink deep shafts for water. Its enormous ap- 

 petite is partly attributable to its constant exertion, but I 

 have once or twice had captive moles, that had no work to 

 do, die overnight for want of worms. It seems indeed as 



if this animal must 

 be ever feeding, 

 and certainly no 

 other starves more 

 easily. 



Though it seems 

 to do most of its 

 engineering and 

 hunting by night, 

 the mole is not by 

 any means inactive 

 in the daytime, 

 and it is observed to be in motion at certain fixed hours, 

 which it appears to keep with great precision. It works 

 near the surface, almost above it when there is snow on 

 the ground ; and Mr Lydekker has happily compared its 

 progress to that of a porpoise in a smooth sea, which re- 

 calls the curious fact, already mentioned, that, though un- 

 known, both now and formerly, in Ireland, there are sev- 

 eral Irish names for this creature, and one of these denotes 

 "porpoise." ^ 



The distribution of the mole is not devoid of interest. 

 In many apparently suitable districts, where it would 



1 I do not intend calling in question the existence of such stores of 

 worms, for these are not uncommon ; but their ultimate object, to pro- 

 vide food in winter, or, as is also alleged, to feed the new-born young, 

 seems at least very questionable. 



2 Sir Herbert Maxwell points out that the common Irish equivalent 

 for porpoise is muc mara (sea-pig) ; but the word I have in mind, but 

 cannot recall, may be a provincialism. 



