44 THE COMMON MOLE. 



return at pleasure. In some kinds of land, and in wet weather, 

 these wells are full to the brim. That moles have frequent 

 recourse to water will be seen from the well-known fact, that 

 they are easily taken, and in great numbers, in a run which 

 leads to a brook or pit, in dry weather. The nest is sometimes 

 made under the root of a tree or thorn bush ; often in dry 

 hedges ; also in solid marl banks, several feet, or even yards 

 deep. It is composed of dry grass, but sometimes mixed with 

 green grass ; the inside is composed of old dry leaves, frequently 

 oak leaves - } * its form resembles that of a wren's nest. The 

 mole has many roads from the nest ; as it is not only formed 

 for receiving its young, but for a comfortable lodging through- 

 out the year. In land where moles are not much destroyed, 

 they will frequently make nests in the middle of fields, where 

 they throw up a heap of earth six or seven times larger than 

 usual." 



Sometimes the mole forms its nest in a windrow, that is, a 

 bank of earth which is meant to be spread over the land ; and 

 in Cornwall, according to Mr. Couch, the nest is always in a 

 high thick hedge of earth, except the field be of unusual size; 

 and the tracks proceed from the hedge across to the middle of 

 the field, or to the opposite side. In severely cold weather they 

 confine themselves to these earthen hedges, generally near the 

 centre, where a little fine earth, thrown out on the snow, marks 

 the exact spot. 



Mr. Jackson says, the number of young is generally four or 

 five, and that he never knew more than six to be found in one 

 nest; but an Essex correspondent to the Magazine of Natural 

 History (viii. 106), says, that in June, 1834, a mole's nest was 

 discovered containing seven young ones, most odd-looking little 

 things, covered with a fine down, like young rats. Mr. Couch 

 says that they do not quit their nests until about half grown. 



" In June," continues Mr. Jackson, " the mole leaves its bur- 



* The English translator of Henderson's edition of Cuvier's Animal 

 Kingdom (1834), says that " moss forms the principal lining of the mole's 

 nest." J. H. F. 



