INSEOTIVORA 87 



It is said to collect the leaves for its nest by rolling 

 on the ground and impaling them on its spines, but 

 exactly how it gets them off when needed is difficult 

 to see. It has also been accused of transporting 

 apples to its nest in the same way. 



Mole. 



There are about eight species of moles entirely 

 confined to the Old World. Only one of these, 

 Talj)a europ^ea, lives in Britain, though it is unknown 

 in Ireland. It differs from the hedgehog in its habit 

 of living underground, and its structure is modified 

 in accordance with this habit. For instance, it has 

 very small eyes and no external ears. It has a 

 cylindrical body covered with very soft fur, which 

 will turn either way. The neck is buried in the 

 shoulders. The forefeet are broad and possess five 

 digits, also a much elongated bone in the wrist, 

 which has the appearance of a sixth finger. The 

 forelegs are very short, and are set on the shoulder 

 girdle in such a way as to enable the mole to work 

 his forefeet outwards and backwards in pushing the 

 soil aside to make a passage for his body. So 

 rapidly and effectually does he do this that the mole 

 has been said to swim through the earth. Those 

 who are troubled with moles in their gardens will 

 have realised this to their cost. When the soil has 

 been nicely dug and loosened ready for planting out 

 choice plants, then the mole delights to burrow about 

 in it, chasing worms and thereby detaching the earth 



