126 TALPAD^. 



the speed of the frightened Mole was equal to that of a 

 horse at full trot. 



The alleys or galleries are opened from the sides of the 

 road, and generally incline a little downwards from their 

 origin towards their termination. We have already stated 

 that the Mole forms the alleys by the expulsion of the 

 earth ; whilst the passage, or high road, is formed prin- 

 cipally by its consolidation. "When an alley is opened, 

 if. a plentiful supply of food be found, the Mole proceeds 

 to form various ramifications from its extremity, throwing 

 up fresh molehills as it advances in its search after its 

 prey ; but if the situation prove but sterile, another 

 alley is opened at a different part of the road. These 

 excavations are more or less deep, according to the 

 nature of the soil and the degree of humidity, — circum- 

 stances which regulate the situation in which the earth- 

 worms most abound. In forming its runs, or excavating 

 its quarries, it pushes the loosened earth before it till it 

 arrives at the last-formed hillock or mole-hill ; and when 

 this becomes too distant, it makes its way to the surface 

 through the solid earth, forming a new shaft, over which 

 another hillock is gradually made by the successive por- 

 tions of earth which are brought from the scene of its 

 mining operations. 



But the labours of the Mole are not confined to the 

 excavations already mentioned. In lands newly sown 

 in summer with barley or turnips, the surface of which 

 is consequently light and yielding, after moderate rain, 

 which has brought the earth-worms to the surface, the 

 Mole follows them, and pursues its chase along the 

 superficial layer of the soil, digging a shallow continuous 

 trench, in which work it advances with great rapidity. 

 This is done by merely forcing its way through the light 

 soil, and thus lifting it up; and Mole-catchers take 



