NATURAL HISTORY. 79 



it fills, and would be unhappy if removed from its accustomed 

 damp and darkness into warmth and light. 



The eyes of the mole are very small, in order to prevent 

 them from being injured by the earth through which the 

 animal makes its way ; indeed larger eyes would be useless 

 underground. When, however, the mole requires to use its 

 eyes it can bring them forward from the mass of fur which 

 conceals and protects them when not in use. The acute ears 

 and delicate sense of smell supply the place of eyes. Its fur 

 is very fine, soft, capable of turning in any direction, and will 

 not retain a particle of mould. But the most extraordinary 

 part of the mole is the paw or hand with which it digs. The 

 two fore paws are composed of five fingers, armed with sharp, 

 strong nails, in order to scrape up the earth, and to prevent 



Europea (Lat. belonging to Europe], the Mole- 



the accumulated mould from impeding the mole's progress ; 

 the hands are turned outwardly, so as to throw the earth out 

 of its way. 



The Mole is a most voracious animal, and is incapable of 

 sustaining even a slight fast. Its principal food is the earth- 

 worm, in chase of which it drives its long galleries under- 

 ground ; but it also will eat insects, bits of meat, aud some- 

 times birds, which it takes by surprise, and then rapidly tears 

 to pieces with its powerful claws. This ravenous appetite 

 causes it to suffer from thirst if a supply of water is not at 

 hand. For this reason the mole always makes a tunnel 

 towards a pond or brook, if there is one near. If no water is 

 near, it digs a number of little wells, which receive the rain 

 or dew, and enable it to quench its thirst. 



