44 



TALPID^— TALPA 



quite near me. I thought it must be a mouse. . . . Another rustle, and I saw a dead 

 oak-leaf move. I sank on my knees, and crawled to the spot. Within a yard of my 

 face I saw the pinky snout of a mole : never was more than the snout and head ... to 

 be seen : its body remained in one of those shallow surface-runs. With amazing 

 swiftness the snout felt all round, and each dry leaf within reach would be grabbed 

 and drawn under : in about ten seconds the mole would return. When there were 

 no more leaves within reach of one opening, the mole would thrust through the 

 surface in a fresh place, and continue its leaf-gathering with incredible energy." 

 R. Kearton {Wild Life at Home, 129, 1899) states that he has once or twice seen 

 moles come out for leaves, but he gives no description of their movements. 



Fig. 21 A. — Skull of Hedgehog, Ermaceus europccus. 

 (a) from above ; {/i) from below. Drawn by G. DoUman. 



