A PET MOLE. 37 



where it was useless, and, with all its properties in- 

 exhausted by crops, is laid on the surface, there to 

 be frozen, the particles to be forced asunder by 

 tbe icy particles with which it is filled, and, after 

 the thaw, to be vivified by the oxygen of the 

 atmosphere, and made ready for the reception of 

 seeds. 



The worms have a mission of a similar nature ; 

 but their tunnels are smaller, and so are their hills. 

 Every floriculturist knows how useful for certain 

 plants are the little heaps of earth left by the worms 

 at the entrance of their holes. And by the united 

 exertions of moles and worms a new surface is made 

 to the earth, even without the intervention of human 

 labour. 



Among other pets, I have had a mole — rather a 

 strange pet, one may say; but I rather incline to 

 pets, and have numbered among them creatures 

 that are -not generally petted — snakes, to wit — but 

 which are very interesting creatures, notwithstanding. 



Being very desirous of watching the mole in its 

 living state, I directed a professional catcher to pro- 

 cure one alive, if possible ; and after a while the 

 animal was produced. At first there was some 

 difficulty in finding a proper place in which to keep 

 a creature so fond of digging ; but the difficulty was 

 surmounted by procuring a tub, and filling it half 

 full of earth. 



In this tub the mole was placed, and instantly 



