f 137 J 
On Moles. By Dr. Barton. 
Read January, 9th, 1810, 
Dear Sir, 
I have lately perused, with not a little satisfaction, in 
one of the British Agricultural Magazines, some obser- 
vations on the utility of moles. It is well known to 
you, that the mole has, by most writers, been consi- 
dered as a very pernicious quadruped; and that the 
business of mole-catching in England is not an unpro- 
fitable one to those who follow it. The observations to 
which I allude, have nearly convinced me, that the come 
mon mole of Europe, is upon the whole more beneficial 
than pernicious to the labours of the agriculturist. To 
the garden it is acknowledged, that the mole does 
prove injurious. 
The common mole of the United States, which Lin. 
nzus denominates, for want of better information con- 
cerning it, Sores aquaticus, is specifically distinct from 
the mole of Europe. But the two animals are, in many 
essential respects,—as of structure, appearance, way of 
life, food &c., nearly allied. Almost every one believes, 
that our mole, which I have no doubt infests or visits 
your ground, for it is very common along the Schuyl- 
kill,—that the common mole of Pennsylvania, is a very 
pernicious animal. I wish you could turn the attention 
of some of the members of the agricultural society to 
this subject. It is one of no small consequence, I great. 
ly doubt if this mole be so pernicious as is imagined. 
I have long entertained doubts on the subject. I suspect 
VOL. Il s 
Hig 
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