228 INSECTIVORA. 



MAMMALIA. INSECTIVORA . 



MOLE. 



Talpa europcea. 

 French : Taupe. German : Maulwurf . 



The common Mole is widely distributed in Great 

 Britain, being found in almost every county, except in 

 parts of Scotland and in the Channel Islands, and is 

 also abundant on the Continent. 



Although it causes a certain amount of inconvenience 

 to gardeners, spoiling the walks and uprooting plants, 

 it has a beneficial effect on meadows, by devouring the 

 larvae of insects, especially those of the Crane-fly, or 

 Daddy-long-legs (Tipula gigantea), which causes so 

 much destruction to the roots of grass in many 

 places near town, where recourse has to be had to 

 artificial remedies in order to get rid of these pests. It 

 is very fond of moist localities, where it is of great 

 utility in draining the land, but it is also found in hills. 

 The presence of the Mole in meadows is also said to 

 prevent the foot-rot in Sheep, by draining the sub-soil, 

 but care should be taken to distribute the Mole-hills 

 several times in the year, otherwise the field will have a 

 patchy appearance. 



The Mole is about 4 inches long. The eyes are 

 extremely small, and scarcely discernible, and are pro- 

 tected by thick fur, which prevents the earth from 

 entering them when it is burrowing. The snout is 

 long and naked, and furnished with a few black 

 whiskers. It has no external ears, but the orifices are 

 readily distinguished just above the fore-feet. The 



