MOLE. 229 



paws are short, and the fore-feet, which are large, are 

 furnished with five strong, sharp claws, turned out- 

 wards. The tail is small, from two-thirds of an inch 

 to one inch long, and covered sparingly with bristly 

 hairs, which are rather more abundant at the tip. 

 The senses of smelling and hearing are well developed. 

 The Mole swims well. The general colour is shining 

 black on the back, and lighter underneath. The fur 

 is short, and extremely fine, but almost black at the 

 extreme tip, and the ground-colour is deep blue. Moles 

 that are white, fawn, mottled white and black, buff 

 with grey spots on the back with orange belly, and even 

 tortoise-shell, are occasionally met with. 



Mole-skins are of little value as fur, on account of 

 their small size. They are mostly made into waist- 

 coats, for which the short fur is especially adapted. 

 Several thousand skins are collected annually, and 

 their value is about Id. to Ijd. 



The provincial name of Mold-worp seems an adapta- 

 tion from the German name of Maulwurf (mouth- 

 thrower). The Mole makes long passages under the 

 earth, which are very visible, as well as its nest, 

 which it forms by throwing up the earth in the 

 shape of a hillock with its fore-feet. In its sub- 

 terranean dwelling it is attacked by a species of flea, 

 which, like its victim, is nearly blind. The Mole does 

 not hibernate, and continues its excavations in winter. 



The Mole usually feeds early in the morning, and 

 in the evening, boring long tunnels in pursuit of its 

 prey. It may be taken before eight in the morning, 

 and after six o'clock at night, by a person watching it 

 throwing up the earth, and placing a spade a few 

 inches below where it is working, and then catching 

 it with the hand. Many thousands are captured with 



