154 The Mole. [Sess 
under a hillock of earth larger than the mole-hills, and with- — 
out any effort at concealment. We have in most of our © 
articles on moles a mathematical design of galleries and 
passages in symmetry as beautiful as a spider’s web, but this 
is all wrong. A French naturalist, Le Court, is said to have 
been the originator of this plan, which goes to show the 
danger of plagiarism. The nest consists of dry grass or 
leaves, whichever is most obtainable. The passages leading ‘ 
into it vary from one to five, but there are usually two or — 
three on a level with one another, while another leads down- — 
wards and all join the runs. 
The mole is polygamous. If you see a female hare running 
across a field and watch for a few minutes, you will soon 
observe a few others following in its spoor. In the same way 
in the breeding season the mole-catcher often catches several 
males in one run. During this period there are many fights 
between males. This is evidenced by the fur on the hecull 
being scratched at this time, most likely by the forefeet. The 
skin on the breast is very thick. Young moles are occasion- 
ally noticed in the autumn, but whether there are two litters 
in a season is not quite certain. If the district is what is 
technically known as “dirty,” only two or three are born; 
but if “clean,” as many as four to six. There are six teats 
on the female. 
During the breeding season it is rather curious that for a 
fortnight or so only males are caught, and it would appear 
that the females hide themselves. But immediately following 
this the males seem to retire from public life, and in their 
turn females for a like period are the only moles caught. 
The mole has been said to leave its runs in hot summer 
nights, but this is questionable. With few exceptions they — 
pass their lives under the soil. One exception I have already 
mentioned. Another is after the young have grown to 
maturity they get notice to quit. If they do not deat) the 
male fe ai kills them. In their haste to escape some © 
of these young moles arrive at the top, where they fall a prey _ 
to their enemies the weasel, the hooded crow, and the jay. — } 
This seemingly cruel proceeding 1 is of course necessary, as the 
food-supply required must in the case of a family be vera 
great. As a rule, moles live singly, and it is only in the 
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