342 EARTH TRESPASSERS. 



capture the worms. These annelids are slow movers 

 on the surface of the earth ; but in their holes they 

 move like lightning, being aided by the stiff, bristly 

 hairs that project from the many rings of which the 

 body is composed, and which are set against the sides 

 of the tunnel. 



When, for example, the worms come to the surface, 

 they do not leave their holes entirely, but always keep 

 the end of the tail within the hole, stretching the body 

 as far as possible in all directions. If under these 

 circumstances they are alarmed, they spring back with 

 such rapidity, that the eye can scarcely follow the 

 movement. That there is some sort of a pursuing on 

 the part of the Mole, and flight on that of the worm, 

 is, I think, obvious from the fact that whenever the 

 earth is agitated, either by stamping on it, or by 

 driving a spade into the ground and moving it back- 

 wards and forwards, the worms come to the surface, 

 evidently in flight from their enemy the Mole. The 

 reader will see, therefore, how difficult must be the 

 task of the Mole. And this difficulty is increased 

 when we reflect upon the furiously raging appetite of 

 the Mole, and the great number of worms which it 

 devours in the course of a day. 



The next point is its ability of finding its way 

 through the maze of dark tunnels which it constructs. 

 Even if they were not dark, there would be no means 

 of distinguishing one from the other, all being exactly 

 alike. I suppose that the action of gravity tells the 

 Mole the way to the upper earth ; but I have not the 

 least idea how it can find its way to the elaborate 

 subterranean fortress which it constructs under the 



