The Mammals of the Edinburfjh or Forth Area. 391 



In January 1897, among an unusual number of large 

 "fortresses" in a mossy meadow near Innerleithen, I 

 examined one which was fully 8 feet in diameter and about 

 2J feet in height. 



The Moles inhabiting the upland districts look to me on 

 the average rather larger than those in the low country. A 

 specimen with a white head, the rest of the body being of 

 the ordinary colour, was caught in October 1880 on Dysart 

 estate, and I have recently seen a cream-coloured one from 

 Luffness Links. 



Dr 0. C. Bradley having expressed a wish for Mole 

 embryos at all stages of development, I obtained for him, 

 from mole-catchers in this neighbourhood, some dozens 

 of female Moles during the spring and early summer 

 of 1904. The first embryos (very small) were got from 

 a Mole trapped on 7th April, a fortnight after the exam- 

 ination of specimens began, and in the course of the next 

 few days a good many more were secured. By the end 

 of the month both well-developed and small ones were 

 occurring. The last Moles examined were caught on 12th 

 May, and all yielded well-grown embryos. Four naked 

 young, about 2J inches long, and probably about a week old, 

 were found in a nest near the Pentlands on 24th May; 

 another nest containing young a third larger was got at 

 same time. Of the twenty- one pregnant females obtained, 



1 contained 2 embryos. 



5 . 3 „ 



11 „ 4 „ 



4 „ 5 „ 

 This gives an average of 3-86, or nearly 4 per litter. 

 Adams, in his paper above referred to, gives the average as 

 " rather more than 3J." Cases of 6 and even 7 embryos have 

 been reported to me by mole-catchers, but I cannot vouch 

 for them myself. I am also told that pregnant Moles are 

 occasionally trapped about harvest time. 



No animal is more infested by vermin than the Mole ; 

 judged from our standpoint, it must lead a decidedly un- 

 comfortable life. Every newly caught Mole that I have 

 examined has harboured in its sleek coat some, usually many, 



