124 



o£ a cricket ball. Its entrance is on the side. It is 

 placed two or three feet from the ground, and is fast- 

 ened to some straws or hay stems. The jumping mouse 

 or jerboa is larger and has long hind legs and tail. 



MOLE. 



Although this animal is very common, it is not often 

 seen, as its home is in the dark damp earth. Its body 

 is covered with fine silky fur, which is exceedingly 

 soft and does not become soiled or rumpled by its con- 

 stant contact with the soil. The eyes are very small, 

 of a black color, and not easily seen; color of the far 

 bluish gray. The feet are broad and well adapted to 

 the purpose for which the mole uses them. It digs 

 long channels through the earth, and where these are 

 the surface is raised up in mound form. It forms one 

 large cell or room which constitutes its home, and from 

 this in all directions run these galleries or passages, so 

 that if one should be cut off it has a number of other 

 chances to escape. Its principal food is the earth worm 

 which it pursues and devours. Sometimes in the morn- 

 ing a hole may be discovered near a mole hill, in which 

 case the animal has most likely been out the previous 

 night in search for food. This is most apt to happen 

 during damp nights, for the worms then come to the 

 surface. The mole often causes quite an amount of 

 trouble in newly made gardens, as they burrow under 

 the planted seed, and uproot and destroy. They also 

 spoil the appearance of a lawn by raising up the earth 

 in various directions. Moles are supposed by some per- 

 sons to be blind, also that they undergo great torment 

 and suffering while living in the dark earth, all of 



