392 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



his family in the main i)assage. Six and eight inches, 

 or even a foot or two, below ground, connecting with 

 the main avenue we find the nest, — a comfortable, 

 domed room something the shape of an inverted six- 

 inch flower pot, furnished with a good bed in one 

 corner. This nest also has several outlets to allow the 

 family to escape in case of an earthquake, such as a 

 sub-soil plough would cause in Moleville, but we must 

 not confuse these avenues with the shallow burrows 

 the Mole is constantly throwing up in his daily search 

 for food. 



" Moles live chiefly on animal food, insects, grubs, and 

 earthworms being on their dailj^ bill of fare. So when 

 we see a lawn or field ridg^ed and uneven from their 

 tunnelling, we must remember that, annoying and un- 

 sightly as it is, if the piece of ground were not full of 

 evil-minded insect or worm life, the Moles would not 

 choose it for their hunting ground. The Mole once 

 having established a home can make endless excursions 

 from its main avenues directed to his prey, by his keen 

 senses of touch and smell, as accurately as the Wolf or 

 Fox. When frost seals the ground, he dives into a safe 

 deep nest and stays tliere until early spring, when he 

 goes in search of a mate, but in open winters I have 

 seen his ' hills ' rising through an old cornfield in 

 Januai-y. 



" People who sa^- that the Mole eats bulbs and plant 

 roots make a mistake and judge by appearances only, 

 A\'hich you have both learned is a dangerous thing to do 

 when climbing tlie animal tree. Moles do root up the 

 ground and dhtiirh plants, when grubs and larvoe are 

 hidden among their roots. Also Meadnw Mice follow 



