100 MAMMALIA— MOLE. 



In skinning the larvse of insects, Vv'hich it always does before it eats them, 

 it displays much expertness ; stripping off the skin from end to end, and 

 squeezing out the contents of the body. 



As these animals very seldom come above ground, they have but few 

 enemies; and very readily evade the pursuit of animals swifter and stronger 

 than themselves. The chief calamity which befals them is an inundation ; 

 and when this happens, they are seen in numbers attempting to save them- 

 selves by swimming, and using every effort to reach the higher grounds. 

 The greater part, however, perish, as well as the young, which remain 

 behind in their holes. Were it not for such accidents, from their great 

 fecundity, they would become extremely troublesome. They generally have 

 four or five at a time ; and it is easy to distinguish, among other mole hills, 

 that in which the female has brought forth her young. These are made 

 with much greater art than the rest; and are usually larger and more 

 elevated. It is probable they produce oftener than once a year. Thus 

 far, indeed, is certain, that new-born moles are found from the month of 

 April to the month of August ; a circumstance which, however, may be 

 owing to their having been engendered and brought forth sooner or later 

 in the year. 



The hole in which they produce their young is formed with singular skill, 

 and deserves a particular description. The female begins by erecting the 

 earth into a tolerably spacious apartment, which is supported within by 

 partitions at proper distance, to keep the roof from falling. All around this 

 she works, and beats the earth very firm, so as to make it capable of 

 keeping out the rain, let it be never so violent. As the hillock, in which the 

 apartment is thus formed, is raised above ground, the apartment itself is 

 consequently above the level of the plain, and therefore less subject to acci- 

 dental slight inundations. The place being thus fitted, she procures grass 

 and dry leaves as a bed for her young. There they lie secure from wet, 

 and she continues to make their retreat equally free from danger ; for all 

 round this hill of her own raising, are holes running into the earth, which 

 go off from the middle apartment, like rays from a centre, and extend about 

 fifteen feet in every direction. These resemble so many walks or chases, 

 into which the animal makes her subterraneous excursions, and supplies 

 her young with such roots or insects as she can provide ; but they contribute 

 still more to the general safety ; for as the mole is very quick of hearing, 

 the instant she perceives her little habitation attacked, she takes to her 

 burrow, and unless the earth be dug away by several men at once, she and 

 her young always make good a retreat. 



Moles live in pairs, between which a warm attachment subsists. They 

 are, however, said to be ferocious, and occasionally to tear and eat each 

 other. 



Some authors have said, but without foundation, that the mole and the 

 badger sleep the whole winter. As a proof that the latter quits its hole in 



