Manchester Memotrs, Vol. liv. (1909J, No. %. 



II. Some Notes on the Breeding Habits of the 

 Common Mole. 



By Lionel E. Adams, B.A. 



Received July loth, igog. Read October igth, igog. 



Since the researches of Henry Lecourt no one seems 

 to have made any serious study of the life history of the 

 Common Mole, and as many of Lecourt's conclusions have 

 been incorrectly drawn, some from single instances and 

 others from his imagination, there is a wide field for 

 correction and research. But while thus criticising 

 Lecourt, we must not forget to give him credit for 

 furnishing most of the information found in the text- 

 bot)ks ; and the little work* by Cadet de Veau which 

 embodies Lecourt's researches, may still be studied with 

 profit by all interested in the subject. 



Among the many remaining problems the following 

 important ones are yet unsolved : — 



1. The length of life of the Mole. 



2. Whether the male and female pair for life, or for a 



season only, or if they couple promiscuously. 



3. Whether the male and female inhabit the same 



nest during any part of the year. 



4. The period of gestation. 



5. The length of time the young spend in the nest, 



and their rate of growth. 



With regard to the first, I believe the Mole lives at 

 least four or five years. I have examined fortresses for 

 three consecutive years, built on the same spot and closely 



• " De la Taupe, de ses moeurs," &c. Paris, 1803. 

 November 13th, igog. 



