50 Anecdotal Natural History 



The sense of touch, also, is highly developed, 

 more especially in the snout, which the animal uses 

 to examine the nature of the soil into which it intends 

 to burrow. If a mole on the surface of the ground 

 wishes to sink a fresh tunnel, it may often be seen 

 running to and fro, and trying various places with 

 the snout, until it has settled upon one to its liking. 



Although the senses of scent, touch, and hearing 

 are so extremely sensitive, that of sight is little more 

 than rudimentary. On casually examining a mole, 

 the observer would be unable to detect the presence 

 of eyes, which are deeply buried in the fur, whence, 

 however, they can be protruded at the will of the 

 owner. The creature can be forced to expose them 

 by suddenly dipping it into a pail of water, when the 

 mole, alarmed at the unexpected immersion, instinc- 

 tively protrudes them from the mass of fur with 

 which they are usually covered, looking like very 

 small black beads. Even when thus exposed, the 

 vision is very imperfect, and is, indeed, hardly neces- 

 sary in the subterranean existence which the animal 

 leads. 



The FOOD of the mole consists chiefly of worms, 

 grubs, and other small creatures which it finds 

 beneath the surface of the earth. By the mere 

 destruction of the dreaded ' wireworm ' grubs, and 

 the larvae of the common cockchafer, which so often 

 devastate the crops, it renders no small service to 

 the farmer, and this alone should protect it from the 

 persecution to which it is so constantly subjected. 



Although it finds the greater part of its food in 

 these creatures, it by no means despises prey of a 

 larger nature, and will eagerly devour any small bird 

 or mouse which it may happen to meet with. 



Its voracity is something extraordinary ; for if kept 

 as a pet, it is one man's work to keep it supplied 



