28 TALPID^— TALPA 



been confirmed by observation, and Mr Adams, following Capt. 

 Mayne Reid, doubts the possibility of the earth being kicked 

 out by the hind legs. After watching captive specimens, he 

 believes that the earth is thrown out by the head, which a 

 digging mole is constantly raising and lowering.^ 



The swiftness with which a mole will traverse its domain 

 by means of the principal road is illustrated by most writers by 

 reference to the famous, but doubtless exaggerated, story of the 

 "trotting horse," a test instituted by le Court. Cold truth, 

 however, reduces the rate of progress, often seen at best speed 

 above ground by Mr Adams, to a pace never faster than a slow 

 walk, or about two and a half miles an hour. Even if this, as 

 is probable, can be exceeded in the tunnels, especially under 

 the excitement of a stimulus like le Court's cri effroyable, there 

 would still remain much scope for imagination before the animal 

 could be affirmed to rival a horse at full trot. 



The alleys or galleries are opened from the sides of the 

 high-road in all directions and without definite plan. As already 

 stated, they differ from it only in the fact that they are used less 

 frequently. Mr Adams believes that in forming its runs, or 

 excavating its quarries, the Mole at first simply digs its way 

 through the ground, paying no attention to the loose soil. 

 After a time it retraces its steps, and when returning pushes 

 the loosened earth before it till the accumulation blocks. It 

 then makes its way to the surface through the solid earth, 

 opening a new shaft, over which a hillock is gradually formed 

 by the successive portions of earth which are brought from the 

 scene of its mining operations. 



But the labours of the animal are not confined to the deep 

 excavations already mentioned. In summer, when land newly 

 sown is consequently light and yielding, and moderate rain 



' The modus operandi of the Pocket Gopher, as observed by Merriam {pp. cit. 

 supra) from a captive specimen, is worth noting here. The animal differs, however, 

 from the Mole in being a rodent with large incisors and fore feet of quite distinct type. 

 When constructing a tunnel it uses its incisors as a pick, its fore feet both in digging 

 and in pressing the earth back under the body, and its hind feet for moving the earth 

 still farther backward. When a sufficient quantity of earth has accumulated behind 

 it, it " turns in the burrow and by bringing the wrists together under the chin, with 

 the palms of the hands held vertically, forces himself along by the hind feet, pushing 

 the earth out in front." When an opening is reached the earth is discharged, but 

 exactly how is not stated. 



