140 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



is of some scientific interest. Meanwhile I take leave of 

 talpa by observing that here, in Herefordshire, it is 

 rarely called by its proper name mole. " Hoont" is its 

 designation among our rustics, while, by a strange per- 

 versity of nomenclature, its true title has been transferred 

 to a different animal, the land vole (Arvicola agrestis). 

 The error, no doubt, is due to the similitude of sound 

 between " vole" and " mole." 



CAN MOLES SEE? 



" Blind as a mole " has long been a proverbial expres- 

 sion; like many other proverbs, untrue, because based 

 on erroneous data. For not only can the talpa see, but 

 it possesses powers of vision sufficiently acute for all the 

 purposes of its semi-subterranean life. 



Moles rarely come under close observation when 

 living, being usually caught in spring traps, and so 

 instantly killed. Then their eyes, becoming wholly or 

 partially closed, can scarce be detected under the cilice 

 of soft fur which forms a periphery around their sockets. 

 With a live mole, such as some days ago I held in my 

 hands, it is different ; and I could see the little black orbs 

 shining like jet, while made aware by the behaviour of 

 the animal that they also saw me. 



My talparius tells me that if he do not cover up his 

 traps so as to exclude every ray of light from the runs in 

 which they are set, the mole will not enter them. Seeing 

 the suspicious framework of iron, with its smooth trigger 

 plate, it will turn snout upward, ' ' scrat " its way to the 



