3Q4 THE COMMON MOLE. 



young. This internal hillock is pierced on all sides 

 with sloping hdles ; which descend still lower, and 

 serv^e as subterraneous passages for the mother to go 

 out in quest of food for herself and her offspring. 

 These bye-paths are beaten and firm ; they extend 

 about twelve or fifteen paces, and issue from the 

 principal mansion like rays from a centre. Under 

 the superior vault we likewise find remains of the 

 roots of the meadow-saffron, which seem to be 

 the first food given to the young. 



In summer, the Mole descends to the low hillocks 

 and flat land ; and, above all, makes choice of 

 meadows for the place of its residence, because it 

 finds the earth there fresher and softer to dig 

 through. If the weather continues long dry, it re- 

 pairs to the borders of ditches, the banks of rivers 

 and streams, and places contiguous to hedges. 



It seldom forms its hole more than five or six 

 inches under the surface. In the act of doing this, 

 it scrapes the earth before it on one side, till the 

 quantity becomes too great for it to labour onwards 

 with ease : then works towards the surface ; and by 

 pushing with its head, and the assistance of its ner- 

 vous paws, gradually raises the mould which incom- 

 modes it, — and thus produces those small hills so 

 common in our fields. After getting rid of the 

 earth in this manner it proceeds forwards, and con- 

 tinues its labour as before ; and a person may easily 

 discover how many Moles are contained in a certain 

 space of grouud, by counting the new-raised Mole- 

 hill, which have no communication with each 

 other. 



