THE MOLE. 27 



the Mole and the carnivorous chelodines of America. I have 

 kept several of them, and have always noticed that they ate ex- 

 actly after the fashion employed by the Mole, seizing their food 

 in their jaws, and tearing it to pieces by the aid of the armed 

 fore paws — one foot being applied at each side of the mouth, so 

 as to push the food forward, while the head draws it back. 



How the Mole assumes this peculiar attitude I can not con- 

 ceive. I have often seen it engaged in eating, and have sketched 

 the creature while so employed ; but, when the Mole has been 

 dead, I have been unable to place it in the proper attitude, 

 though anxious to do so in order that the artist might be able 

 to make his drawing properly. 



From seeing the animal eat, I can readily conceive the fury 

 with which it must be animated when it fights, and can perfect- 

 ly appreciate the truth of the assertion, that it has been observed 

 to fling itself upon a small bird, to tear its body open, and to de- 

 vour it while still palpitating with life. 



Nothing short of this fiery energy could sustain an animal in 

 the lifelong task of forcing itself through the solid earth ; and 

 it may well be imagined that when two male Moles of equal 

 strength happen to meet, the combat must be of the most fu- 

 rious kind. 



To those who are accustomed only to look at animals from 

 their own stand-point, these battles may appear too insignificant 

 to attract attention ; but to the eye of a naturalist, who instinct- 

 ively identifies himself with the nature of the animals which he 

 is observing, these combats lose all their insignificance, and even 

 partake in some degree of the sublime. Size is only of relative 

 importance ; and, in point of fact, a battle between two Moles is as 

 tremendous as one between two lions, if not more so, because the 

 Mole is more courageous than the lion, and, relatively speaking, 

 is far more powerful and armed with weapons more destructive. 



Magnify the Mole to the size of the lion, and you will have a 

 beast more terrible than the world has yet seen. Though near- 

 ly blind, and therefore incapable of following prey by sight, it 

 would be active beyond conception, springing this way and that 

 way as it goes along, so as to cover a large amount ofspace, leap- 

 ing with li'ghtning quickness upon any animal which it met, 

 rending it to pieces in' a moment, thrusting its blood-thirsty snout 

 into the body of its victim, eating the still warm and bleeding 

 flesh, and instantly searching for fresh prey. 



