392 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



his family in the main passage. Six and eight inches, 

 or even a foot or two, below ground, connecting with 

 the main avenue we find the nest, — a comfortable, 

 domed I'oom something the shape of an inverted six- 

 inch flower pot, furnished with a good bed in one 

 corner. This nest also has several outlets to allow the 

 familv to escape in case of an earthquake, such as a 

 sub-soil plough would cause in Moleville, but we must 

 not confuse these avenues with tlie shallow burrows 

 the Mole is constantly throwing up in his daily searcli 

 for food. 



'' Moles live chiefly on animal food, insects, grubs, and 

 earthworms being on tlieir daily bill of fare. So wlien 

 we see a hiwn or field ridged and uneven from their 

 tunnelHng, we must remember that, ainioying and un- 

 siglitly as it is, if the piece of ground weie not full of 

 evil-minded insect or worm life, the Moles would not 

 choose it for their hunting ground. The Mole once 

 having established a home can make endless excursions 

 from its main avenues directed to liis prey, l)y his keen 

 senses of toucli and smell, as accurately as the Wolf or 

 Fox. When frost seals the ground, he dives into a safe 

 deep nest and stays tliere until early spring, Avhen he 

 goes in search of a mate, but in open winters I have 

 seen Ins ' hills ' rising through an old cornfield in 

 January. 



" People who say that the Mole eats bulbs and plant 

 roots make a mistake and jndge by appearances only, 

 which you have both learned is a dangerous thing to do 

 when climbing the animal tree. iNIoles do root up tlie 

 ground and disturh plants, when grubs and larvae are 

 hidden among their roots. Also Meadow Mice follow 



