THE COMMON MOLE. 



should be poured over the mouth of the passage, 

 This will compel the animal, which can be at no 

 great distance, to come forth, when it may be easily 

 caught with the hand. It is easy to discover whe- 

 ther a hill, apparently of this kind, has communi- 

 cation with any other. The mole-catcher lies down 

 and applies his ear to it, and at the same time coughs 

 and makes a loud noise. If it has no commu- 

 nication, the terrified animal may be heard by its 

 motion in the ground. In this case, either water 

 may be poured into the hole, or the earth turned 

 up with the spade, till the Mole is found. 



With respect to catching the animals in subter- 

 raneous traps, it is an important circumstnance to 

 discover which are their most frequented, and 

 which their bye roads. This is effected by making 

 a mark on every new mole-hill, by a light pressure 

 of the foot; and the next morning observing whe- 

 ther a Mole has passed that way, and obliterated 

 the foot-mark. This must be done for two or three 

 successive days. These foot-marks should not be 

 deeply impressed; lest tjie animal be alarmed on 

 his return, and thus form a new branch of road 

 rather than open the obstructed one. The traps 

 are then to be set in the frequented streets, so as 

 to fit nicely the divided canal. These consist of a 

 hollow semi-cylinder of wood, with grooved rings 

 at each end, in which are placed nooses of horse- 

 hair, fastened loosely by a peg in the centre, and 

 stretched above the surface of the ground by a bent 



stick. 



