THE MOLE. 89 



distance upon the smooth water, some animal paddling 

 towards the island. They soon closed with this feeble 

 passenger, and found it to be the common mole, led by a 

 most astonishing instinct from the castle hill, the near- 

 est point of land, to take possession of this desert island. 

 It had been, at the time of my visit, for the space 01 

 two years quite free from any subterraneous inhabitant ; 

 but the mole has, for more than a year past, made its 

 appearance again, and its operations I have since been 

 witness to." 



