188 A COUNTRY READER. 



claws. Its eyes are small so that they can 

 scarcely be seen. The mole has no external 

 ear, but in its place there is simply an opening 

 which can be completely closed by a fold of skin. 



Wherever there are insects and earth worms 

 and the soil is not too stiff, there the mole can 

 generally be found. The soil must not be either 

 too loose or too stiff, because if it is, the mole 

 cannot dig into and make compact its dwelling 

 and passages. 



Whenever you see little mounds of loosely cast 

 up earth you know that moles are about. 



The nest is always found under a larger heap 

 than usual, and mostly hidden very wisely under 

 roots of trees or walls, but sometimes in the 

 open field. 



The nest is a nearly round dwelling chamber, 

 softly upholstered with vegetable substance. 



From this nest the passage or passages run 

 to the mole's hunting ground, and may be 100 

 or 160 ft. long. The walls of the nest and 

 passage are compact and hard, so that the earth 

 will not fall in. 



When the mole is catching insects in the soil 

 by throwing the earth out, it digs or excavates a 

 very rough passage, and by means of its long 

 snout, tracks to some distance the insects, larvae, or 

 worms, found in the soil. The mole takes no 

 pains to render this hunting passage compact, as 



