THE MOLE. .9 



Mole does not trouble himself about stripping off the skin of the 

 worm. I do not see how he could do so, for even with the assist- 

 ance of knives, scissors and forceps, such a task presents many 

 difficulties, and how the Mole is to succeed in such an under- 

 taking with no tools but his teeth and claws, I cannot comprehend. 

 No Mole that I have ever seen, gave the slightest indication of 

 skinning or emptying the worm, but proceeded without the least 

 ceremony to devour the writhing prey, and then looked out for 

 another victim. 



It is hardly possible to conceive, and quite impossible to 

 describe the fury with which the Mole eats. It hunches its 

 back in a most curious manner, retracts the head between the 

 shoulders, and uses its fore paws to assist it in pushing the 

 worm into its jaws. In this respect there is a singular resem- 

 blance between the Mole and the carnivorous chelodines of 

 America. I have kept several of them, and have always noticed 

 that they ate exactly after the fashion employed by the Mole, 

 seizing their food in their jaws, and tearing it to pieces by the 

 aid of the armed fore paws — one foot being applied at each side 

 of the mouth, so as to push the food forwards, while the head 

 draws it back. 



How the Mole assumes this peculiar attitude I cannot con- 

 ceive. I have often seen it engaged in eating, and have sketched 

 the creature while so employed ; but, when the Mole has been 

 dead, I have been unable to place it in the proper attitude, 

 though anxious to do so in order that the artist might be able to 

 make his drawing properly. 



From seeing the animal eat, I can readily conceive the fury 

 with which it must be animated when it fights, and can perfectly 

 appreciate the truth of the assertion, that it has been observed 

 to fling itself upon a small bird, to tear its body open, and to 

 devour it while still palpitating with life. 



Nothing short of this fiery energy could sustain an animal in 

 the lifelong task of forcing itself through the solid earth ; and 

 it may well be imagined that when two male Moles of equal 

 strength happen to meet, the combat must be of the most 

 furious kind. 



To those who are accustomed only to look at animals from 

 their own stand-point, these battles may appear too insignifi- 

 cant to attract attention ; but to the eye of a naturalist, who 



