NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Curious habitations. 



discovered that, for their better security, the eyes 

 of the mole are furnished with muscles, by which 

 they may be withdrawn or exerted at pleasure. 

 The faculty of hearing is said to be possessed by 

 the mole in a very eminent degree ; and if at any 

 time it emerges from its subterraneous retreat, it 

 is by this means enabled instantly to disappear 

 on the approach of danger. 



1 he females produce four or five young at a 

 time, generally about the month of April; and 

 the habitations prepared for their accommodation 

 are constructed with peculiar care and intelli- 

 gence. The parent animals begin their operati- 

 ons by raising the earth and forming a pretty 

 high arch. They leave partitions, or a kind of 

 pillars, at certain distances; beat and press the 

 earth; interweave it with the roots of plants; and 

 render it so hard and solid, that the water cannot 

 penetrate the vault, on account of its convexity 

 and firmness. They then raise a small hillock 

 under the principal arch ; upon which they lay 

 herbs and leaves as a bed for their voting. In 

 this situation they are above the level of the 

 ground, and consequently beyond the reach of 

 accidental inundations. They are at the same 

 time defended from the rains by the large vault 

 that covers the internal one, upon the summit of 

 which last they rest along with their young. 

 This internal hillock is perforated on all sides 

 with sloping holes; which descend still lower, 

 and serve as subterraneous passages for the mo* 

 1 



