44 



TALPID^— TALPA 



quite near me. I thought it must be a mouse. . . . Another rustle, and I saw a dead 

 oak-leaf move. I sank on my knees, and crawled to the spot. Within a yard of my 

 face I saw the pinky snout of a mole : never was more than the snout and head ... to 

 be seen : its body remained in one of those shallow surface-runs. With amazing 

 swiftness the snout felt all round, and each dry leaf within reach would be grabbed 

 and drawn under : in about ten seconds the mole would return. When there were 

 no more leaves within reach of one opening, the mole would thrust through the 

 surface in a fresh place, and continue its leaf-gathering with incredible energy." 

 R. Kearton {Wild Life at Home, 129, 1899) states that he has once or twice seen 

 moles come out for leaves, but he gives no description of their movements. 



Fig. 21 A.— Skull of Hedgehog, Ennaceus europcens. 

 (a) from above ; (/^) from below. Drawn by G. Dollman. 



