Obfervations on the Mole. 33 
winter time it retires to elevated places, becaufe it is there 
beft fecured from inundations. In fummer, however, it 
defeends to the low hillocks and flat land, and above all 
makes choice of meadows for the place of its refidence ; 
becaufe it finds the earth there frefher and fofter for it to dig 
through. If the weather continues long dry, it repairs to 
‘the borders of ditches, the banks of rivers and ftreams, and 
to places contiguous to hedges. 
The mole breeds generally at the beginning of winter, 
and the months when they are found big with young are 
January and February. In the month of April a great 
many of their young may be feen. Among 122 caught in” 
the month of May by my method, there were only four bie 
with young. This animal cannot live without digging; it 
is obliged to find its nourifhment in the bowels of the earth; 
and on that account is under the neceflity of making thofe 
long fubterranean paffages which are found between one 
mole-hill and another. In general it begins to dig five or 
fix inches under the furface; it {crapes the earth before it 
on one fide till the quantity becomes too great for it to labour 
with eafe; it then works towards the furface; and by pufh- 
ing with its head, and the afliftance of its nervous paws, ' 
gradually raifes up the earth which incommodes: it, and 
which produces thofe fmall hills fo common in fields. 
After getting rid of the earth in this manner, it proceeds 
forwards, and continues its labour as before. The farther 
it goes the more hills are produced. At each period of its 
labour it throws up four or five. 
In places overgrown with grafs and fhrubs, the mole is 
eften contented with only forcing a paflage through between 
the roots; and when the earth in gardens has been newly 
watered, it keeps itfelf at the depth of fcarcely haif an inch 
under the furface. This animal fhews an equal averfion to 
great cold and violent heat; and in order to avoid both, it 
forces its way, when either prevail, to the greateft depth in 
the earth. . 
Von, IL. Dd It 
