ORDER CARNASSIER. 205 



females commence with removing and raising the earth and 

 forming a vault of tolerable height. They have partitions* 

 a sort of pillars, at certain intervals. They then beat and 

 press the earth, mix it with roots and herbs, and render it 

 so hard and solid beneath, that the water cannot penetrate 

 the vault, in consequence of its convexity and firmness. 

 They then raise a hillock below, to the summit of which 

 they bring grass and leaves, to make a bed for their little 

 ones. In this situation, they find themselves above the 

 level of the soil, and also, consequently, sheltered from any 

 ordinary inundations, and at the same time secured from 

 the rain by the vault which covers the hillock on which they 

 repose. This hillock is pierced throughout with many 

 sloping holes, which descend lowland extend on all sides, 

 like so many subterraneous roads, through which the mother 

 can sally forth and seek subsistence for her young. These 

 subterraneous paths are firm and beaten, extend to about a 

 dozen or fifteen paces, and all proceed from the retreat like 

 the radii of a circle. There may be found, as well as under 

 the vault, the bulbs of the colchicus, which are apparently 

 the first food given by the mother to her offspring." 



In the interior of the Moles' nests are to be found leaves, 

 grass, and the skins of those bulbous roots just mentioned. 

 The little ones may be found there in the beginning of the 

 month of March. At first they are quite naked and red. 

 It is an old remark that more males than females are 

 produced. They bring forth twice a year, generally four 

 or five at a time, whence it is that the young may be found 

 almost at all times, from spring to autumn. The exact 

 period of gestation is unknown. Out of the season of 

 sexual intercourse, and of the care of the young, every Mole 

 lives an isolated, retired life, seeking its sustenence by con- 

 tinual labour. 



The Mole, however destructive to agriculture, repays us 

 to a certain degree by her services. Hence some would 



