58 TALPA ; OR, REMARKS ON THE HABITS OF THE MOLE. 



about the breadth of a wide meadow from the river side. 

 Now Talpa swims well ; and in time of flood, although 

 many may be drowned, yet I have seen the moles swim to 

 this high bank, which was to them very safe and secure 

 anchorage. If they had done no injury when there,- there 

 would have been little cause for complaint, as far as the 

 stank was concerned ; but the Moles made their runs right 

 through it, and so allowed the water to gush out on the 

 opposite side into a deep pool, and close by this was a house 

 and extensive farm premises. Owing to frequent floods 

 these holes or runs in the bank increased in size, and in the 

 high flood of February 6th, 1852, several yards of the 

 embankment were suddenly carried away, about midnight, 

 and in a few moments a part of the house, and the farm- 

 yards adjoining it, were deluged with water. The cattle 

 were fortunately saved from drowning, but great injury 

 was done to the corn ricks and the contents of the barns, 

 and in many other ways. The turnpike road adjacent was 

 also rendered impassable, much to the inconvenience of 

 the neighbourhood, and all travellers. So you see, small 

 creatures may do great mischief ! 



Moles prefer some depth of soil for their hunting ground. 

 I have never seen a mole hill on our Downs ; yet probably 

 a stray mole may come, now and then, to the north-east 

 end. But I have known on the Downs two colonies of the 

 Arvicola Agrestis, or Meadow Mouse : and, standing motion- 

 less, have watched their graceful and innocent ways whilst 

 nibbling the blades of grass. On the least movement they 

 would run away, down their narrow well-worn path, to 

 their holes. In the course of my walks I chanced to see a 

 Weasel near their runs, and on making a peculiar sound 

 with my lips this active animal would come close to my 

 feet. A few days afterwards, however, all my little friends 



