106 MAMMALIA—MOLE. 
In skinning the larve of insects, which 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 put 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 
behin4 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 
‘veeping 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 
sonsequently 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 asa 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 an¢ 
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 
