162 MOLE. Class I. 



stripping the skin from end to end, and squeez- 

 ing out all the contents of the body. 



These animals do incredible damage in gar- 

 dens, and meadows, by loosening the roots of 

 plants, flowers, grass, corn, <§c. Mortimer says, 

 that the roots oiPalma christi and white helle- 

 bore, made into paste, and laid in their holes, 

 will destroy them. They seem not to have 

 many enemies among other animals, except in 

 Scotland, where (if we may depend on Sir 

 Robert Sib bald) there is a kind of mouse, with 

 a black back, that destroys moles.* We have 

 been assured that moles are not found in Ire- 

 land. 



* Sib. Hist. Scot. Partiii. p. 12. I did not find it was known 

 at present. 



