1900-1901.] Natural Forests and the Growth of Cones. 157 
originally, for surface animals are of lighter colouring on the 
belly than on the back. It is less disadvantage to the mole 
to depart from the ordinary colour than with other animals. 
An albino rabbit, being more conspicuous than an ordinary 
grey one, is consequently in more danger, but any colour to the 
mole in the dark is the same. 
The common mole ranges over the greater part of Europe 
and Asia north of the Himalayas, occurring as far eastwards 
as Japan, and it is also found in the Altai Mountains. It 
is said not to occur in Ireland. Dr Scharff of Dublin, con- 
firming this, tells me that the explanation usually given for 
its absence from that country is that the mole came to the 
British Islands from the Continent, but that Ireland was 
already separated from Great Britain when England was 
still connected with the Continent. 
Of the Talpide there are something like a dozen repre- 
sentatives. All are limited to temperate regions of Europe, 
_ Asia, North America, and South Africa. The greater number 
of them have digging habits, but a few are aquatic and 
-eursorial. The eyes of some are covered with skin, as in the 
Talpa ceca of Italy. 
_ In point of antiquity moles are very old, and their fossil 
| remains have been found in the Tertiary strata of Europe. 
‘ In conclusion, I should like to say that my contribution to 
this communication is infinitesimal compared with that of my 
7 geriend Mr M‘Leish, to whom I have already referred. 
 IV—NATURAL FORESTS AND THE GROWTH 
OF CONES. 
By Mr 8S. ARCHIBALD, Tomatin, INVERNESS, 
CORRESPONDING MEMBER. 
(Read Dec. 26, 1900.) 
Iy ancient days, as every one knows, large tracts of this 
‘country were covered with dense woods, and when the Romans 
‘invaded it they had to cut their way through the pathless 
