





^V?<>!:-:35r>C^'l 



MULi]. — 7<7^a Europcca. 



The Insect-Eaters i'oiiu a very large group of animals, and are known by 

 their lon^t;- slender teeth. 



The common Mole is found plentifully in England, and its presence may be 

 known by the numerous little hills which it makes during its excavations. 



As the Mole spends much of its time underground, and feeds on worms and 

 other subterranean insects, its hearing needs to be exceedingly delicate. As 

 however, vision woidd be of no use in the dark recesses of the earth, the 

 eyes of the mole are very small, in order to prevent them from being injured by 

 the earth through which the animal makes its way. When, however, the mole 

 requires to use its eyes it can bring them forward from a mass of fur which 

 conceals and protects them wdien not in use. The acute ears and delicate 

 sense of smell supply the place of eyes. 



The Mole is a most voracious animal, and is uicapable of sustaining even a 

 slight fast. Its principal ibod is the earth-worm, in chase of which it drives its 

 long galleries underground ; but it also will eat insects, bits of meat, and is said 

 sometimes to catch birds, which it takes by surprise, and then rapidly tears to 

 pieces with its powerful claws. 



Dull and harmless as it may appear to be, it is in reaUty one of the most ferocious 

 animals in existence, and will engage in the fiercest combats upon very slight 

 provocation. While thus employed, its whole faculties are so entirely absorbed in 

 its thirst for revenge, that it will leave the subterraneous shafts which it has been 

 so busily excavating, and join battle with its foe in the full light of day. Should 

 one of tlie combatants overpowei* and kill the other, the victorious Mole springs 

 upon the vanquished enemy, tears its body open, and eagerly plunging its nose 

 into the wound, drinks the blood of its slaughtered enemy, and fcnsts richly on 

 the sanguinary banquet. 



