THE STRENUOUS MOLE 281 



I don't believe it ! My Ockley mole has proved 

 to me that insect parasites cannot be got rid of in 

 that way. The hare's twitching muscle is not more 

 powerful than that of the generality of animals. I 

 have seen him make the water fly like a mist out 

 of his fur, but the dog can do it nearly as well. 

 In the mole the movement is more sustained and, 

 I imagine, more rapid, yet the fleas must be able 

 to keep their hold on him since we always find him 

 much infested by them. 



