12 Transactions of the 



dweliinp;. The mole makes a choice, if possible, for the situation 

 of its runs, a place generally being selected of an earthy soil, and 

 consequently easiest to burrow in. It first proceeds to make a 

 central high-road ; then branching out from that, it forms on both 

 sides numerous passages which lead to the hunting-grounds, as they 

 are called. Then the dwelling itself is constructed, which gene- 

 rally lies under a hedge or wall that may afford it some protection. 

 The construction of this abode is most wonderful, and I will take 

 the following account of it from ' Wood's Natural History,' as I 

 have not had an opportunity to examine one myself : — ' It con- 

 sists of a central compartment, the roof of which is nearly level 

 with the earth, and therefore situated at a considerable depth 

 from the apex of the keep. Around this keep are driven two 

 circular passages or galleries, one just level with the ceiling, and 

 the other at some height above. The upper circle is much smaller 

 than the lower. Five short descending passages connect the 

 galleries with each other, but the only entrance into the keep is 

 from the upper gallery, out of which thi'ee passages lead into the 

 ceiling of the keep. It will be seen, therefore, that when a mole 

 enters the house from one of his tunnels he has first to get into 

 the lower gallery, to ascend thence to the upper gallery, and so 

 descend into the keep.' 



The walls of the keep and different runs become excessively 

 firm and solid, and are proof against the severest storms. This is 

 caused by the constant friction of the mole's fur against the sides. 

 But the wonderful fortress just described is not the only one 

 made by the mole. It also forms a separate compartment, or 

 nursery, for rearing its young. This is generally made at the 

 junction of two runs, and consists of a single chamber, with a 

 nest formed of dry grass and blades of corn. 



I will now give a short description of the hunting-grounds 

 wherein the mole spends much of its time, only making use of 

 the fortress in the autumn and winter months. 



A high-road is first made, which leads direct into the fortress, 

 and this road is larger than those subsequently made, but at the 

 same time not large enough to allow of two moles passing abreast. 

 From this road on both sides passages open, and it is in the con- 

 struction of these that the mole throws up the well-known ' mole 

 hills.' These mounds in themselves present nothing worthy of 

 notice, and are merely heaps of debris round the shafts through 

 which the mole gets rid of its excavated material. The depth to 

 which the runs are made in the earth varies a great deal accord- 

 ing to the weather and the consistency of the soil. In wet weather 

 they are placed very near the surface, and sometimes they are 

 merely trenches, the reason for this being, that in damp weather 



