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On Moles, By Dr, Barton. 



Read January, 9th, 1810. 



Dear Sir, 



I have lately perused, with not a little satisfaction, in 

 one of the British Agricultural Magazines, some obser- 

 vations on the utility of moles. It is well known to 

 you, that the mole has, by most writers, been consi- 

 dered as a very pernicious quadruped ; and that the 

 business of mole-catching in England is not an unpro- 

 fitable one to those who follow it. The observations to 

 which I allude, have nearly convinced me, that the com- 

 mon mole of Europe, is upon the whole more beneficial 

 than pernicious to the labours of the agriculturist. To 

 the garden it is acknowledged, that the mole does 

 prove injurious. 



The common mole of the United States, which Lin- 

 naeus denominates, for want of better information con- 

 cerning itj Sorex aquaticiis, is specifically distinct from 

 the mole of Europe. But the two animals are, in many 

 essential respects, — as of structure, appearance, way of 

 life, food Sec, nearly allied. Almost every one believes, 

 that our mole, which I have no doubt infests or visits 

 your ground, for it is very common along the Schuyl- 

 kill, — that the common mole of Pennsylvania, is a very 

 pernicious animal. I wish you could turn the attention 

 of some of the members of the agricultural society to 

 this subject. It is one of no small consequence. I great- 

 ly doubt if this mole be so pernicious as is imagined. 

 1 have long entertained doubts on the subject. I suspect 



VOL. II. s 



