64 BRITISH MAMMALS 



of the mole. But it is probably not a favourite article of diet 

 with any of these carnivorous creatures, because its dark flesh has 

 a sickening musky smell and taste. 



Moles do not hibernate : they remain quite active during the 

 winter, even throwing up molehills through the snow where the 

 latter does not lie deeply. If the ground is frozen hard the mole 

 has to confine his journeys in search of food (worms) to below 

 the surface. It is of course mainly nocturnal in its habits so far 

 as emergence from its subterranean home is concerned. I have, 

 however, seen moles not infrequently in broad daylight in the 

 summer-time.^ When they are aware that they are being 

 watched (no doubt from their senses of smell and hearing) they 

 attempt to escape by scuttling over the ground, moving their 

 large hands alternately. Their fastest pace on a smooth surface 

 above ground is only equal to a man's slow walk. 



The mole is able to swim. This it does with the whole head 

 and a good deal of the body and even the tip of the tail above 

 the water. It makes great way with its huge flat hands, which 

 beat the water downwards and backwards. 



To remain secure from its enemies and at the same time 

 to obtain supplies of its favourite food (worms), the mole 

 excavates cavities in the ground which are called its " fortress," 

 and in these the nest is constructed, the " fortress " being reached 

 by at least two tunnels. The site of the fortress is generally 

 chosen at the side of a bank or beneath the roots of a tree-trunk, 

 or more often in an open field or turfy downland. A circular 

 cavity is first of all scooped out by the front paws, and the loose 

 soil is then pushed out and up on to the surface, the pushing 

 being done by the nose and the top of the head. All this soil 

 which is excavated to form the hollow or hollows (for there are 

 sometimes two or more nests, one above the other) forms the 

 molehill. This dome (the earth of which is rendered strong and 

 solid by being constantly pressed and beaten by the mole when it 



^ A place where moles for some reason are remarkably en hidetice during 

 the daytime is that sandy gorse- and heather-covered promontory of Hengistbury 

 Head, near Christchurch, Hampshire. 



