12 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



the hair, and the characteristic changeability of the blackish- 

 brown hues is owing to this structure. 



Perhaps the reader may not have noticed that when the fur of 

 the Mole has been thoroughly cleansed, it has a strong iridescence 

 in certain lights, assuming various beautiful tints, among which 

 a ruddy copper is the most prevalent. 



Another reason for the cleanliness of the fur is the strong, 

 though membranous muscle beneath the skin. While the Mole 

 is engaged in tuimelling, particularly in loose earth, the soil falls 

 upon the fur, and for a time clings to it. But, at tolerably 

 regular intervals, the creature gives the skin a sharp and power- 

 ful shake, which throws off at once the whole of the mould that 

 has collected upon the fur. Some amount of dust still retains its 

 hold, for, however clean the fur of a Mole may seem to be, if the 

 creature be placed for an hour in water, a considerable quantity 

 of earth will be dissolved away, and fall to the bottom of the 

 vessel. The improvement in the fur after being weU washed 

 with soft tepid water and soap, is almost incredible. 



Many persons have been struck with such admiration of the 

 fur of the Mole, that they have been desirous of having a 

 number of the skins collected and made into a waistcoat. This 

 certainly can be done, but is not a commendable plan, for the 

 garments thus made are very hot, so that they can only be worn 

 in winter ; they are very expensive, costing from two to three 

 pounds, and they possess but little lasting powers. There is also 

 a wonderfully strong smell about the Mole ; so strong, indeed, 

 that dogs will sometimes point at Moles instead of game, to the 

 great disgust of their masters. This odour adheres obstinately 

 to the skin, and even in furs, which have been dried for more 

 than ten years, I have noticed this unpleasant savour. 



The Mole is one of those animals which, like the sloth, are 

 formed expressly for the condition of life in which they are 

 placed. There are many burrowing animals, but the Mole is 

 emphatically the burrower, the very type of a creature which is 

 intended to pass the whole of an active existence under ground. 

 I say an active existence, because there are many other creatures 

 which lead a subterranean life, but which are comparatively 

 quiet and listless during their sojourn underground. But the Mole 

 absolutely riots in the exuberance of animal spirits and muscular 

 activity, passing through the earth almost like a fish through 



