THE MOLE. 25 



the galleries with each other, but the only entrance into the keep 

 is from the upper gallery, out of which three passages lead into 

 the ceiling of the keep. It will be seen, therefore, that when a 

 mole enters the house from one of his tunnels, he has first to get 

 into the lower gallery, to ascend thence to the upper gallery, and 

 so descend into the keep. 



There is, however, another entrance into the keep from below. 

 A passage dips downward from the centre of the chamber, and 

 then, taking a curve upward, opens into one of the larger tunnels, 

 or high roads, as they have been appropriately termed. It is a 

 noteworthy fact, that the high roads, of which there are seven or 

 eight, radiating in different directions, never open into the gallery 

 opposite one of the entrances into the upper gallery. The Mole, 

 therefore, is obliged to turn to the right or left as soon as it enters 

 the domicile, before it can find a passage to the upper gallery. 



By continual pressure of the Mole's fur, the walls of the pas- 

 sages and the roof of the central chamber become quite smooth, 

 hard and polished,so that the earth will not fall in even after the 

 severest storm. 



The use of so complicated a series of cells and passages is ex- 

 tremely doubtful, and our total ignorance on the subject affords 

 another reason why the habits of this wonderful animal should 

 be better studied. The only object that ican at present be sur- ■ 

 mised is, that the rightful owner of such a stronghold may rest 

 safely in his middle chamber, tasting the reward of repose which 

 sweetens labor, and that in case of alarm, he might escape through 

 either of the many passages which surround his home. I do not 

 know, however, whether the Mole always retires to his fortress in 

 order to rest, but rather imagine that he contents himself with ly- 

 ing in the high road. Such, at all events, seems to be the opinion 

 of professional mole-catchers, who tell me that the Mole works 

 and rests at regular intervals of three hours, making no distinc- 

 tion whatever between day and night. 



Wonderful as is this subterranean habitation, it is not the only 

 one which is constructed by the animal. It may be well adapted 

 to a solitary individual, but it is not at all suited for a family, for 

 whom a more extended nursery must be provided. The nursery 

 is much simpler than the habitation, consisting merely of a large 

 chamber, in which is laid a considerable mass of dried grass, the 

 young blades of corn being sometimes employed for that pur- 

 pose. The Mole chooses for this purpose the spot where two or 



