Adams, Breeding Habits of the Common Mole. 



Fig. II. [b). Vertical section of same. 



N. Nest. 



D. Downshaft 9 inches deep. 

 e, e, e. Exits from nest. 

 /, /, Ground level. 

 same mound, resulting, I think, from a coincidence in the 

 choice of a nesting place. On another occasion I found a 

 down shaft leading from the cavity of a breeding nest. 



Time of Bleeding. The usual time for the young to 

 be born is about the middle of May, but this year (1909) 

 I have the evidence of a very reliable inole-catcher of a 

 nest containing three young being dug up on April 24th, 

 and I have myself found nests containing young on May 

 4th (young about seven days old), May 6th (about two 

 days old), May 8th (about seven days old), and May 

 24th (about 21 days old); none since then. The latest 

 time that I have seen young in the nest was June 25th, 

 1 90 1. They were quite ready to leave the nest, and were at 

 least three weeks old. I do not know if climatic changes 

 have any influence on their pairing early or late,* but 

 considering their subterranean existence, I should say 

 less than might be the case with most animals ; and I am 

 convinced, though I cannot prove it, that the actual 

 coupling takes place underground. During the pairing 

 * Lecourt asserts that this is the case. 



