168 INJURIES TO MARITIME PINE. 



truder, and fights to the death with other moles, also with weasels 

 and field mice. It is uncommon that both combatants survive. 

 The weasel ever falls a victim. 



"Besides the runs and ordinary mole-hills, moles make large 

 heaps of earth, under which are a kind of special nest, measuring 

 from O'lo metres, to 0'20 metres across. 



" These are made of the leaves of trees, dry grass, and the green 

 leaves of cereals or other plants within their reach. When they can 

 make a selection they prefer the withered leaves of the oak. They 

 do not, as some say, pull down grass by the roots. They always put 

 out their snouts to collect materials for their nests. They are wise 

 enough to bring their materials from a distance for fear of discovering 

 their retreat, especially when they cut down green corn. It is 

 perfectly proved that everything required for their nests is brought 

 from above ground, and that roots of plants are never made use of. 



" What is called impropei'ly the mole's nest is only a warm and 

 comfortable retreat, where it lives permanently and habitually. The 

 males have their nests as well as the females. This habitation is 

 the central point of all its operations, it is the spot most frequently 

 visited. The mole reaches it by all kinds of runs, both horizontal 

 and vertical ; it contains its food magazines abundantly supplied with 

 pieces of earth-worms still in life, so as to preserve them for a longer 

 time. This animal, so active and strong in scraping, is never long 

 without visiting its nest, it sleeps and eats there generally. It is 

 often found warm when uncovered by the mattock. The most able 

 mole-catchers have never surprised the mole in its nest. At the first 

 sound they disappear in their deepest and best concealed runs. 

 The nest is often renewed without the position being much changed. 

 Under the same heap of earth may be found three or even four nests 

 of different ages. The same mole has sometimes several central 

 dwellings which it occupies irregularly so as to escape the snares of 

 its enemies. The heap which conceals the nest is always larger than 

 the usual mole heap, they are 0-50 metres in height, nearly 1 m^tre 

 across. 



" The nest is not always under one of these large heaps which are 

 so easily seen. Sometimes it is placed under an adjoining ordinary 

 sized hill. The female usually makes use of this ruse so as to 

 conceal her young. Nests placed under very large hills are what 

 mole-catchers call false or male's nests. 



" The experienced mole-catcher can easily distinguish the nest of 

 the female, because, not being so strong, they cannot throw up so 



