THE MOLE. 



ground and sit at the end of them, but forms a complicated 

 subterranean dwelHng-place, with chambers, passages, and other 

 arrangements of wonderful completeness. It has regular roads 

 leading to its feeding-grounds ; establishes a system of com- 

 munication as elaborate as that of a modern railway, or to be 

 more correct, as that of the subterranean network of metropolitan 

 sewers ; and is an animal of varied accomplishments. 



It can run tolerably fast, it can fight like a bulldog, it can 

 capture prey under or above ground, it can swim fearlessly, and 

 it can sink wells for the purpose of quenching its thirst. It is, 

 indeed, a most interesting animal, and our comparatively small 

 knowledge of its habits gives promise of much that is yet to be 

 made known. 



Take the Mole out of its proper sphere, and it is as awkward 

 and clumsy as the sloth when placed on level ground, or the 

 seal when brought ashore. Replace it in the familiar earth, and 

 it becomes a different being, — full of life and energy, and actuated 

 by a fiery activity which seems quite inconsistent with its dull 

 aspect and seemingly inert form. The absence of any external 

 indication of eyes communicates a peculiar dulness to the crea- 

 ture's look, and the peculiar formation of the fore limbs gives 

 an indescribable awkwardness to its gait. 



I have always taken much interest in this animal, and have 

 watched many of its habits, as far as can be done under the 

 very untoward circumstances that always must exist when the 

 animal to be watched is essentially subterranean in its habits. 

 The Mole cannot develop its nature unless it is buried below 

 the surface of the ground, and when it is there, we cannot see 

 it. Many marine and aquatic animals can be tolerably watched 

 by placing them in the aquarium ; but when they take to 

 burrowing, they put an effectual stop to investigation. 



We all know that the Mole burrows under the ground, and 

 that it raises those little hillocks with which we are so familiar, 

 but we do not generally know the extent or variety of its tunnels, 

 or that the animal works upon a regular system, and does not 

 burrow here and there at random. How it manages to form its 



