'LITTLE GENTLEMAN IN BLACK VELVET COAT' 



hours at a time, but is soon awake and off 

 again to scent out the unfortunate worms. 

 Its activity is entirely governed by them. 

 In wet weather when the worms are at the 

 top of the ground the moles' runs are very 

 shallow ; when the worms go deep, it has also 

 to drive its tunnels deep, and during the hot 

 dry summer-time, when they are hard to find, 

 it has to leave the open meadows with their 

 baked soil, and seek its prey in the woods and 

 hedgerows. Under the damp layers of fallen 

 leaves worms abound, no matter how the 

 ground may be baked elsewhere, and here the 

 mole can tunnel happily in search of them, 

 while its winter hunting grounds get harder 

 and harder. It is sometimes said that moles 

 cannot live without water, and that is why they 

 are only found in damp land ; but the truth is 

 that their food is only found in fairly damp 

 soil, not that they want water so badly. As 

 a matter of fact I have never seen a mole 

 drink. All those I have had for purposes of 

 study have had water provided for them. 

 More than once I have seen one of them dip 

 its nose accidentally into the saucer and draw 

 back sneezing disgustedly, but I have never 

 seen one drink properly. Other people have 



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