THE MOLE. 7 



involuntarily reminds the observer of the well-known maze, with 

 which the earliest years of youth have been puzzled throughout 

 many successive generations. 



The central apartment, or keep, if we so term it, is a nearly 

 spherical chamber, the roof of which is nearly on a level with 

 the earth around the hill, and therefore situated at a considerable 

 depth from the apex of the heap. Around this keep are driven 

 two circular passages, or galleries, one just level with the ceiling 

 and the other at some height above. The upper circle is much 

 smaller than the lower. Five short descending passages connect 

 the galleries with each other, but the only entrance into the 

 keep is from the upper gallery, out of which three passages lead 

 into the ceiling of the keep. It wiU be seen, therefore, that 

 when a Mole enters the house from one of his tunnels, he has 

 first to get into the lower gallery, to ascend thence to the upper 

 gaUeiy, and so descend into the keep. 



There is, however, another entrance into the keep from below. 

 A passage dips downwards from the centre of the chamber, and 

 then, taking a curve upwards, opens into one of the larger 

 tunnels, or high roads, as they have been appropriately termed. 

 It is a noteworthy fact, that the high roads, of which there are 

 seven or eight, radiating in different directions, never open into 

 the gallery opposite one of the entrances into the upper gallery. 

 The Mole, therefore, is obliged to turn to the right or left as soon 

 as it enters the domicile, before it can find a passage to the 

 upper gallery. 



By continual pressure of the Mole's fur, the walls of the 

 passages and the roof of the central chamber become quite 

 smooth, hard and polished, so that the earth will not fall in even 

 after the severest storm. 



The use of so complicated a series of cells and passages is 

 extremely doubtful, and our total ignorance on the subject 

 affords another reason why the habits of this wonderful animal 

 should be better studied. The only object that can at present be 

 surmised is, that the rightful owner of such a stronghold may 

 rest safely in his middle chamber, tasting the reward of repose 

 which sweetens labour, and that in case of alarm, he might 

 escape through either of the many passages which surround his 

 home. I do not know, however, whether the Mole always retires 

 to his fortress in order to rest, but rather imagine that he contents 



