THR MOLfc. 



cJ with other materials, it forms a stamen of peculiar 

 strength and beauty for the purpose of making hats, 

 Superior to any hitherto used in that valuable branch 

 of manufacture. Mr. Bewick adds, that the gentleman 

 has obtained a patent for this useful discovery. 



The colour of the mole is generally black, but some 

 have been found with white spots, and others per- 

 fectly white. Its fur is very short, close set, softer 

 than the finest velvet, or perhaps than the fur of any 

 other animal; and, although it lives in the earth, it is 

 always exceedingly clean and glossy. It is somewhat 

 singular, that while the ermine and sable are sought 

 in the recesses of their immense solitudes in the ri- 

 gorous climates arid desolate regions of the north, no 

 use has been made of a fur, which in beauty is scarcely 

 inferior to any that Siberia can furnish. 



This animal is exceedingly prolific : it breeds un- 

 der ground, where it forms a commodious nest of moss 

 or fine herbage. It makes its subterraneous tracks 

 in various directions, and throws up here and there 

 large heaps of mould, which are vary prejudicial, and 

 consequently render its destruction an object of atten- 

 tion to the farmer. 



The desolation which these animals commit in gar- 

 dens and cultivated grounds, are indeed much greater 

 than the generality of people would suppose possible. 

 M. de BufFon informs us that, in the year 1740, he 

 planted about sixteen acres of land whh acorns, of 

 which the quarter part was carried off by the moles ; 

 and in many of their subterraneous retreats were 

 found half a bushel, and in some a bushel. After dis- 

 covering this circumstance, our author caused a num- 

 ber of iron traps to be constructed, by which he 

 caught about thirteen hundred moles in less than three 

 weeks. 



Nature* which in every part of the animal creation 

 displays her diversifying energy, has formed several 

 varieties of this animal. One species found in Sibe- 

 ria is of a beautiful green and gold colour, which va- 

 ries with the light. The yellow mole of North Ame- 

 rica is larger than that of Europe, and, like the latter, 

 8 



