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IL- A curious Fadl in the Natural Hi/lory of the Common Mole, Talpa 

 europaea, Lim. By Arthur Bruce^ Efq. Secretary to the Natural 

 Hifiory Society of Eftinbm^h, 



Read June 2, 1793. 



rr^HAT the mole does, in common with other quadrupeds and 

 -■■ man, poflefs that fpirit of curiofity which prompts to emi- 

 gration and even to tranfmarine expeditions, I found out laft fum- 

 mer from the beft authenticated fa6ls. 



In vifiting the Loch of Clunie, which I often did, I obferved in 

 it a fmall ifland at the diftance of 180 yards from the neareft 

 land, meafured to be fo upon the ice. Upon the ifland, Lord 

 Airly, the proprietor, has a caftle and fmall fhrubbery. I ob- 

 ferved frequently the appearance of frefli mole-cafts, or hills. ■ I 

 for fome time took it to be the water-cioufe, and one day afked the 

 gardener if it was fo ? No, he faid, it was the mole ; and that he 

 had caught one or two lately. But that five or fix years ago he 

 had caught two in traps ; and for two years after this he had ob- 

 ferved none. But about four years ago, coming afhore in a fummer's 

 evening in the dufk, the 4th or 5th of June, 10 o'clock P. M. he 

 and another refpedtable perfon, Lord Airly's butler, faw at a fmall 

 diftance upon the fmooth water fome animal paddling to, and not 

 far diftant from the ifland. They foon, too foon ! clofed with this 

 feeble paffenger, and found it to be our common mole, led by a mofl 

 ^ , aflonifhing 



