THE COMMON MOLE. 395 



Moles, like the Beavers and some other qua- 

 drupeds, live in pairs ; and so lively and reciprocal an 

 attachment subsists between them, tliat they seem 

 to disrelish all other society. In their dark abodes 

 they enjoy the placid habits of repose and of soli- 

 tude ; they also have the art of securing them- 

 selves from injury, of almost instantaneously making 

 an asylum or habitation, and of obtaining a plentiful 

 subsistence without the necessity of going abroad. 

 They shut up the entrance to their retreats ; and sel- 

 dom leave them, unless compelled by the adm.ission 

 of water, or when their mansions are demolished. 



The Mole is chiefly found in grounds where the 

 soil is loose and soft, and affording the greatest quan- 

 tity of Worms and insects. During the summer, 

 these animals run in search of food, in the night, 

 among the grass ; and thus frequently become the 

 prey of Owls. They exhibit a considerable degree 

 of art in skinning the worms, which they always do 

 before they eat them ; stripping the skin from end 

 to end, and squeezing out all the contents of the 

 body. 



The verdant circles in the meadows and pastures, 

 called by country people fairy-rings, are supposed 

 to be owing to the operations of the Moles ; who, at 

 certain seasons, perform their burrowing by circum- 

 gyrations ; and this, loosening the soil, gives to the 

 surface directly over these tracks greater fertihty and 

 rankness of grass than is seen in other parts*. 



When Moles arc first taken, either by digging or 



• Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 131, 152- 



