Ch. XLIV.] ON ANIMALS. 553 



rienced on old pasture by their loss. They, however, not only disfigure the 

 appearance of pleasure-grounds and gardens, but they obstruct the process 

 of the scythe in the season of mowing, and in many cases they occasion 

 considerable damage to covered drains ; and although we do not hold with 

 the prejudice so generally entertained against them, they are not unjustly 

 dreaded by farmers who have fine meadow land which they have been at 

 the expense of draining, as well as by gardeners. 



The most usual mode of destroying them is that of employing an expe- 

 rienced mole-catclier, and if he could be depended upon for doing the 

 business effectually, it would seldom have occasion to be repeated ; but, 

 like the rat-catchers, they generally leave a few to breed, in order to insure 

 their beinrr called in ajrain ; and neither the farmer nor his men can be 

 supposed expert in the mode of trapping, even if they had time for the 

 occupation. The animals, however, commence breeding about the latter 

 end of May ; and, as they make their nests both larger and deeper under 

 ground than their common habitations, the spot can then be easily known by 

 their greater size than those of the common mole-hill. It should, there- 

 fore, be marked ; and shortly afterwards, when the old one may be thought 

 safely housed with her young ones, they may be dug out. From five to 

 seven will commonly be found in each nest. They are known to feed on 

 earthworms; and these, if chojiped up with the poison of muv vomica, and 

 left in their paths, will, it is said, be eaten by them, and consequently prove 

 fatal. The mole must, however, be more pressed than he usually appears 

 to be by hunger ere he will feed upon them in that state ; for, when he 

 catches the worm, he deliberately skins it with as much care and regularity 

 as a fishwoman does an eel. 



Should their destruction, however, not be desired, and yet their depar- 

 ture be deemed expedient, that object we learn may be attained by means 

 of larpe slips of brown paper dipt in brimstone and put into the hills : 

 the mode is to shovel off the fresh mole-hills, open the holes, and burn a 

 match in each, keeping in the smoke. The consequence of this operation 

 upon a field overrun with moles, was — as stated by the gentleman who 

 relates it — " that all the moles left the field directly, and returned no more ; 

 but should they return in future, it is only repeating the experiment, and 

 probably with the same effect*." 



An extraordinary prejudice is also entertained against the hedge-hog, and 



he is persecuted by all ranks, as if he were a common nuisance. The absurd 



accusation of sucking the cows is universally brought against him ; he is 



also charged with stealing chickens, game, and fruit of all descriptions, and 



is said to be very fond of eggs, in consequence of which he finds no favour 



in the eye of the game-keeper : whereas the fact is, that he lives chiefly 



upon insects with w'fiat little fruit he can pick up on the ground, is torpid 



during the winter, and is in all respects a most harmless creature. If kept 



in a garden, he will in a great measure clear it of worms, without occasion- 



iner anv damajje, and he oujrht never to be destroved. 



Ill" • 1 



The question has often been mooted, " whetiier every animal was not 



created with a beneficent intent, and placed by Providence for some wise 

 j)urpose under the protection of man ?" This, we have no intention of dis- 

 cussing, for we conceive that every man, whatever may be his individual 

 opinion on the subject, has a just right to guard his property from their 

 devastations ; yet, beyond that, the expediency of their further destruction 

 may, we think, well be doubted. 



* Bath Paptrs, vol. i., p. 230, 



