Moles in the Month 0/ March. 133 



agree in this being the modus operandi, and no doubt it 

 is sOj though still a puzzle. 



There is yet another puzzle — as to whence comes the 

 ejected earth. Some of it, of course, from the ground 

 immediately underneath the vertical shaft ; but it cannot 

 all come thence. A bushel, or even half a bushel, of 

 loose mould could not be got from a bulk of the firmest 

 packed soil scarce so big as a man's fist ; and there is no 

 larger cavity just below the orifice. It must then be 

 brought along the horizontal passages — the " runs." 

 But how so ? By pushing forward, or a series of back- 

 ward scrapings ? To these questions even the oldest 

 talparii cannot give satisfactory answer. I have spoken 

 of " tumps," where the tossed-up mould will quite fill a 

 bushel; but there are exceptional ones of more than a 

 barrowful. I have just measured one in a meadow near 

 my house, of oblong form, to find the greater diameter 

 4ft., the lesser 3ft., and the vertical height or axis 18in ! 

 On scattering this vast heap, I discovered that no less 

 than eleven " runs " led away from it, radiating to every 

 side. Still there was no nest nor cavity within ; though 

 this might have been made later on, as the heap was but 

 recently raised, and no doubt intended for the place of 

 parturition. 



MOLES IN THE MONTH OP MARCH. 



" Mad as a March hare " has long been a proverbial 

 expression, quite intelligible, though all may not under- 

 stand it. Its origin has reference to the rutting season. 



