THE OWL. 37 



the mole, have not noticed this circumstance. An 

 intelligent mole-catcher, who has been employed 

 by the Crown for many years in Richmond Park, 

 was the first to inform me of this curious fact,, 

 which has since been confirmed to me by another 

 mole-catcher. The clay-basin formed by the mole 

 will sometimes contain nearly a peck of worms. 

 On examining them, each will be found to have 

 been bitten near the head, and in such a way that 

 it is not quite deprived of life. These basins ap- 

 pear to be formed in the winter, but to have the 

 chief supply of worms deposited in them during 

 the spring months. It has been suggested to me 

 that as the young of the mole are very tender and 

 require considerable warmth, it is not improbable 

 that the parents make this provision against the 

 breeding season, in order to prevent the necessity 

 of their quitting them for any length of time in 

 search of food. Should this be the case, it is a 

 curious fact in the history of these animals. 



The Owl is another animal, the utility of 

 which is not sufficiently known, and it is, there- 

 fore, destroyed most recklessly by game-keepers 

 and country people generally. Occasionally a 

 more enlightened farmer may be met with, who, 

 aware of the benefits he derives from this bird, 

 will afford it admission into his barns ; but this is 

 not enough. Farmers generally, and the proprie- 

 tors of land and manors should use their influence 



