64 Mole Variation. [Sess^ 



Nil.— MOLE VARIATION. 



By Mr ROBERT SERVICE, Corresponding Member. 



{Read March 25, 1908.) 



Throughout the Solway area the mole is an abundant species^ 

 everywhere familiar, from the sea-shore to the tops of the 

 highest hills. Its workings are to be seen along the broad 

 top of the Merrick, the huge mountain mass that rises to a 

 height of 2782 feet, thus dominating all the other peaks of 

 the southern Highlands. The species is very common in all 

 parts of the three south-western counties, its work conspicu- 

 ous in all places, so there is no need to enlarge further upon 

 its distribution. And yet it was not always so common and 

 conspicuous. So comparatively recently as 110 years ago 

 mole-catching first became a regular occupation here, the 

 original mole-catchers, who were Englishmen, being brought 

 to ply their calling on his lands by the then Duke of 

 Buccleuch. 



The main purpose of this communication is to make a 

 statement upon the range and character of the variation 

 observed upon (1) the size of the mole and (2) colour of its 

 pelage. 



Measurements taken of moles in the flesh show rather 

 striking results. The largest male I have seen measured 7f 

 inches in total length, but one inch less still marks a large 

 individual. For a female 5 J inches is about the average 

 length. The largest female measured by myself was 6 J 

 inches. The difficulty of estimating whether any given 

 individual has attained its maximum growth is almost in- 

 superable in looking for the minimum dimensions for adults. 



The mole sheds its winter coat immediately after the breed- 

 ing season, the male assuming its new summer fur several 

 weeks earlier than the female does. By the first week in 

 June both sexes are fairly well clothed in their new dress. 

 The normal coloration is black in many shades ; indeed it is 

 somewhat surprising to find how numerous the different 

 shades of what we may call black can be. As a matter of 



