52 A necdotal Natural History. 



hillocks being merely the superabundant earth which 

 it is obliged to throw out at short intervals. These 

 tunnels mostly terminate in the 'fortress,' as it is 

 termed, which is a really fine specimen of excavation, 

 almost attaining the rank of architecture. 



The situation selected is generally at the roots of 

 a tree or large bush, where the ground is unlikely to 

 give way above it. 



The general plan of the structure is as follows : 



In the centre is a rather large circular chamber with 

 exits at various places, which lead into a gallery sur- 

 rounding it Above this is a second circular gallery, 

 communicating with the lower one by no less than 

 five passages. 



A large passage opening into the high road, is 

 driven down from the lower gallery, and a large series 

 of tunnels, radiating on all sides, and all communicat- 

 ing with the lower gallery, are finally constructed. 



It will thus be seen that the mole, if chased by an 

 enemy able to follow it along the tunnels, can take 

 refuge in the fortress, pass through the centre chamber, 

 and escape by one of the passages on the opposite 

 side, leaving its foe bewildered in the complicated 

 maze of tunnels. The reader must not, however, 

 think that every fortress contains the whole of these 

 passages and galleries; and, indeed, it is very doubtful 

 whether any individual fortress contains both the cir- 

 cular galleries and all the connecting passages. 



The central cavity is usually filled with a quantity 

 of moss, dead leaves, grass, etc., and is used as a 

 bed-chamber by the mole during the colder seasons 

 of the year. In warmer weather, however, it generally 

 takes up its abode in one of the ordinary hillocks. 



Generally at some little distance from the fortress, 

 the female mole constructs her nest, which she builds 

 in seme large hillock, and lines with moss or dried 



