THE MOIiE. 447 



excavating and enlarging the point of intersection of three or 

 four passages, is generally lined with dry grass or dead leaves, 

 sometimes with moss, and even fur. 



The young ones begin to run in about five weeks, when they 

 are about three parts grown. They follow their mother for some 

 time. 



Contrary to what might be expected from the nature of their 

 haunts, Moles are fond of water. The one which Mr. Alston 

 kept in confinement (ut supra) was supplied with a vessel of 

 water sunk in the gravel, and drank frequentl}'. Sometimes it 

 was seen to run through the water and splash about in it. 



More than this. Moles have been observed to swim well and 

 voluntarily. The)'' will not onl}' cross ditches of running water 

 and still pools ('The Field,' 24th June, 1876), but have been 

 found boldly swimming across rivers, such as the Taw in 

 Devonshire (Zool. 1860, p. 7169), and the Greta in Yorkshire 

 C The Field,' 4th Sept., 1880). 



The Mole has other enemies besides man, amongst which 

 may be reckoned Weasels, Owls, and Buzzards. 



It was long ago remarked by Gilbert White (in his 40th 

 letter to Pennant), that " Weasels prey on Moles, as appears by 

 their being sometimes caught in Mole-traps." This of itself 

 would not be conclusive, as the Weasels thus caught might have 

 been in pursuit of Field Mice, which often make use of the 

 Moles' runs ; but two or three instances have been recorded 

 in which Weasels have been seen carrying dead Moles in their 

 mouths.* That Owls occasionally prey upon Moles (that is, pro- 

 bably, when they can catch them above ground), is proved by 

 an examination of their " pellets " or " castings." Upon scruti- 

 nising 210 pellets rejected by the Tawny Owl, Dr. Altum 

 discovered (besides Rats, Mice, Voles, Shrews and small birds) 

 the remains of forty-eight Moles. 



The Common Buzzard is a capital Mole-catcher, and in 

 the vicinity of Mole -hills will take up a position on some 

 tree, and watch until it sees a Mole working near the surface, 

 when it will instantly drop down and seize it. In this way 

 (i.e. by watching and jumping down) Buzzards destroy numbers 



* ' The Field,' 9th July, 1881, and 1st May, 1886. Eeprinted in ' The 

 Zoologist,' for February last, p. 68. 



