WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



through the thick layer of protecting soil in 

 very wet weather. It is wonderful how dry 

 the fortresses keep as a rule, the bed in the 

 centre being as warm and comfortable as any 

 creature could desire. The lining is made of 

 such leaves and grass as can be found near 

 at hand, the owner continually adding to the 

 accumulation, going up to the surface when all 

 is quiet, choosing by smell and touch the ma- 

 terial best suited for his needs, and carrying 

 it home through the many passages. Besides 

 the bolt hole, which is a sort of * back door,' 

 there are many other ways in and out of 

 the nest, and the heap of soil is riddled 

 with galleries. Many passages radiate from 

 the fortress into the surrounding land, their 

 course being marked at intervals with the 

 earth thrown up as the mole made them. 



There are both highways and byways, the 

 former being the roads along which the moles 

 travel from place to place, and which are used 

 by many individuals. These are the ones that 

 the mole-catcher likes to set his traps in, for 

 he can be sure of catching more than one mole 

 in such a highroad. The only thing is that 

 if he catches a mole, and another mole comes 

 along before he has taken it out of the trap, 



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