70 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



It may be mentioned here that, as a general rule, the Mole 

 exhibits a marked preference for light soils, such as old 

 pastures, warrens, downs, or recently manured ploughed lands, 

 in all of which the earth can be tunnelled with comparative 

 facility. Occasionally, however, it frequents clayey or barren 

 districts. A peculiarity in its habits is that it works during the 

 day at certain regular hours, which are observed with extra- 

 ordinary punctuality. Continuing his account, Macgillivray 

 observes that during the winter the Mole " retires at intervals 

 to its fortress, in which it has formed a bed of dry leaves 

 or grass, to enjoy a profound repose ; but in spring it quits 

 this habitation, and rests during the warm season in a mole- 

 hill. 



" On the surface, to which it sometimes makes its way, it 

 can run with considerable speed, but, if not in the immediate 

 vicinity of its hole, is easily overtaken. It is more especially 

 in the early part of the day that it is thus occasionally met 

 with. When a meadow which it has frequented has been 

 inundated, the Mole has been seen to swim with great vigour ; 

 and instances are known of its making its way to islands in 

 lakes and rivers. 



" The males are more numerous than the females, and the 

 former sometimes engage in desperate combats. The number 

 of young produced at a birth varies from three to seven, 

 and the period of parturition is from April to the end of 

 summer ; but whether more than one litter has been produced 

 in a year has not been ascertained. The nest is generally 

 found beneath a large mole-hill, and is formed of a mass 

 of leaves, grass, fibrous roots, and other vegetable sub- 

 stances." 



With regard to the appearance of the Mole above ground, 

 Mr. Trevor-Battye sends me a note : " This often happens 

 in the evening, especially in July and August, when the animals 



