DESTRUCTION OP MOLES. 169 



much earth, and their mole-hills are smaller and flatter. The mole- 

 hills furnish valuable indications. An experienced man can divine 

 the sex of the animals from the appearance of the mole-hills ; amongst 

 the numerous runs they can fix on the chief road between two im- 

 portant centres, and the mole can hardly escape a trap placed where 

 it must be passed a thousand times in a day. From these indications, 

 the mole-catcher can deal with the females and young ones so as to 

 suit his own interest, which he never fails to do when he is paid at 

 so much per head. The female has in the year two litters of four 

 or five each. Young moles produced in spring have a litter before 

 the end of the first year. The first litter is produced in the month 

 of April, and it is of great consequence to catch them at that time, 

 as one mother caught means four or five less on the estate. The 

 real nests can be easily detected, as we have said above. 



" I will now point out the best way of getting rid of them. Only a 

 man trained specially will do any good ; others will not pursue the 

 moles with the order, regularity, and intelligence necessary. The good 

 mole-catcher knows the habits and instincts of the animal, and that 

 preliminary knowledge will suggest modes of destruction which would 

 escape any other person. 



" I am acquainted with one skilful mole-catcher ; three times a 

 year he comes from Normandy to work on some of the important 

 estates in Sologne. From his zeal and activity, he seems born for the 

 trade. He undertakes to destroy the moles at so much per head, or 

 so much per hectare. If he receives 25 centimes a head (the usual 

 price), he cares more for the number of his victims that for doing his 

 work thoroughly. He tries to catch males rather than females, who 

 are the hope of the future. On this point I may relate what happened 

 to one of my neighbours with the mole-catcher in question. The first 

 time he was employed, it was fixed that he should receive 25 centimes 

 per mole. At the end of two days he brought eighty-nine moles, of 

 which seventy-two were males. It was evident that the females had 

 been spared. It is better to make arrangements by the quantity of 

 ground. In Sologne 1 franc 50 centimes are given per hectare without 

 food. 



" The skilful mole-catcher, when visiting his traps, keeps an 

 attentive eye on the mole-hills and runs. Whenever he sees a mole 

 disturbing the ground, he approaches slowly, with one stamp he inter- 

 cepts the new run in such a way as to cut off all retreat, and one blow 

 of the mattock secures his victim. The mattock is also used in getting 



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