THE MOLE 



39 



Set of Fur (i) in the Mole 

 (2) in ordinary Animals 



head is long and pointed. Now this is the very best form that an 

 animal can have, which has to bore its way through the earth. 



Next we shall notice that the soft, warm fur does not lie flat, 

 as it does in most animals, but stands straight 

 out from the body. This is to allow the mole 

 to travel through its narrow tunnel either for- 

 wards or backwards. 



If a cat, for instance, were to try to crawl 

 backwards through a burrow only just large 

 enough for her body to pass, she would find 

 it very difficult. Her fur would stand up and 

 hinder her, just as it hinders your hand if you stroke her from 

 the tail towards the head. But the mole's fur, which is set differ- 

 ently, does not hinder it at all, and lies flat upon its back, in 

 whatever direction the animal is moving. 



Where are the mole's eyes? Press the fur on its face aside 

 and you will see them, but they are very small. The mole does 

 not want to use them in its dark, underground tunnels, so they are 

 always covered by the fur, which prevents any little fragment of 

 earth or stone from finding its way into them. 



In spite of its small size, the mole is said to be a very savage 

 animal. If it should happen to meet with another mole it is 

 always ready to fight, and will not cease from the combat until 

 either the one or the other is killed. And it makes its attack 

 with such ferocity that it has been said that, if a mole could be 

 increased to the size of a tiger, it would be by far the fiercer 

 and more dangerous animal of the two. 



It is also said to be a very voracious animal. Those who make 

 mole-catching their business say that 

 it cannot go without food for more 

 than a very few hours at a time. It 

 is asserted that the mole feeds regu- 

 larly and at stated times, namely, 

 that at 8 and 12 a.m., and at 4 p.m., 

 it may be detected burrowing for its 

 food. It sleeps between these times. 



In one way there can be no doubt that the mole is very useful 



Skull of Mole 



