THE COMMON MOLE 



soft and velvety coat is ^wonderfully adapted to prevent any soil from 

 lodging in the fiir, M^hich arises perpendicularly from the body and can 

 bend either bacWards or forw^ards, according to the movements of the 

 animal in its tunnel. 



The colour is a soft deep black vi^ith a silvery sheen, the under part 

 of the chin and belly suffused v^ith a yellov^ish tinge. 



Our Common Mole inhabits Europe from Sw^eden and Russia to the 

 central parts of France, while south of the Alps and in the Mediterranean 

 countries its place is taken by a closely allied form. 



Throughout England, Wales and Scotland it is abundant in suitable 

 localities, and in the latter country has been recorded in the hilly districts 

 at an altitude of over 2000 feet as w^ell as among the sandhills by the 

 sea. I have observed it on the surface of the ground routing amongst 

 gravel and heather by a stream high up on a Highland deer-forest, while 

 there are few places provided with a good supply of earthworms where 

 the Mole may not be found, as these supply its favourite food. The 

 larvae of insects, small mammals, reptiles, and even the flesh of its own 

 kind are also eaten. 



It is absent in many of the Scottish islands, including the Shetlands, 

 Orkneys, and Outer Hebrides, and also in the Isle of Man and Ireland. 



Most people are familiar with the little earth-mounds which are raised 

 by the Mole when removing the earth fi-om the tunnels as it burrows 

 in search of its prey. 



The first systematic study of these runs and the fortress or breeding 

 stronghold was made by the Frenchman, Henri le Court, towards the end 

 of the eighteenth century, and since then many other observers, especially 

 Mr. Lionel Adams and Mr. W. Evans, have added much to our 

 knowledge. From the fortress a main underground thoroughfare passes 

 through the territory occupied by the Moles, whence branch many by-ways 



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