260 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



on my lands. Instead of permitting a mole to be 

 caught, I bought all I could and turned them 

 down alive ; and soon my fields, one after another, 

 were full of mole hills, to the amusement of all 

 my neighbours, who at first set me down for half 

 a lunatic; but now several adopt my plan, and 

 are strenuous advocates of it. My fields became 

 exactly like a honeycomb ; and this continued 

 even among my standing, and growing, and ripen- 

 ing crops ; not a mole was molested, but I still 

 bought more. This summer I had fourteen 

 brought, which I turned down, but they were not 

 wanted ; I have nothing for them to eat : all that 

 moles live upon is destroyed, and so, poor things, 

 they must starve or emigrate to some distant land, 

 and thus get bowstringed by savage men whom 

 they aim to serve. Adopt my plan and it will be 

 sure to answer." 



This, then, is the advice of a practical agricul- 

 turist. Let us now hear Mr. Jesse, who with 

 that benevolent feeling that characterizes all his 

 writings, thus advocates the cause of this pro- 

 scribed little animal. 



" That moles were intended to be beneficial to 

 man, there can I think be no doubt. I have been 

 assured that where old mole-hills are most abun- 

 dant on sheep pastures, the latter animal is gener- 

 rally in a healthy state, as it feeds on the wild 



