THE MOLE. 277 



Habitations. 



eating with these are wider and more frequented 

 streets, made by the perpetual journeys of the 

 male and female parents: as well as many other 

 less frequented alleys or bye-roads, with many 

 diverging branches, which they daily extend to 

 collect food for themselves or their progeny. 



" These animals are most active in the vernal 

 months, during the time of their courtship ; and 

 many more burrows are at this time made in the 

 earth for their meeting with each other. And 

 though they are commonly esteemed to be blind, 

 yet they appear to have some perception of light, 

 even in their subterraneous habitations ; because 

 they begin their work as soon as it is light, and 

 consequently before the warmth of the sun can 

 be supposed to affect them. Hence one method 

 of destroying them consists in attending to them 

 early, before sunrise ; at that time the earth or 

 the grass may frequently be seen to move over 

 them ; and with a small light spade their retreat 

 may be cut off, by striking it into the ground 

 Behind them, and they may be immediately 

 dug up. 



" The mole suckles four or five, and sometimes 

 pix young ones; which are placed considerably 

 deeper in the ground than the common runs; 

 jand the mole-hills near them are consequently 

 Jarger, and generally of a different colour. These 

 pests are to be dug up; having first intercepted 

 .the road between them and the mole-hills in the 

 vicinity, to cut off the retreat of the inhabitants. 



