NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



frequently be noticed that the soil along each line 

 has been slightly elevated or disturbed. This is 

 caused by a Mole, which tunnels its way along the 

 rows, a couple of inches or so beneath the surface, 

 in quest of the grubs and various larvae which 

 usually congregate about the roots of plants on 

 which they feed. Occasionally the Mole, in its 

 passage, disturbs the roots of some of the plants 

 so seriously that they die, but this does not occur 

 except with young, tender, and small-rooted kinds. 



In a field which I examined at Walmer at intervals 

 over a period of five years, I noticed that the 

 Moles had tunnelled it so thoroughly that I esti- 

 mated at least two tons of subsoil had been annually 

 cast up on the surface. Therefore, it can clearly 

 be realised what a great part the Mole takes in 

 enriching the soil. 



If the teeth of the Mole be examined it will be 

 observed they are all specially adapted for eating 

 insects and other small creatures. From the nature 

 of its teeth the South African Golden Mole is 

 classified in zoological science as an insectivorous 

 animal of the order Insectivora, and of the family 

 ChrysochloridcE. 



I have kept Moles in captivity, and have never 

 been able to induce them to eat potato tubers or 

 any other kind of vegetable matter. I have also 

 examined the stomachs of large numbers of Moles, 

 and have not once found any vestige of vegetable 

 substance therein. The contents of the stomachs 



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