1920.] 



The Common Mole. 



65<J 



THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE 

 COMMON MOLE 



(Talpa Europea). 

 Lionel E. Adams, B.A. 



Most people have learnt that the mole is an insectivorous 

 borrower with a cylindrical body covered with black velvety fur, 

 which rises vertically from the skin. This peculiarity is alleged 

 to have been acquired to enable the animal to move both back- 

 wards and forwards in its narrow tunnels without brushing the 

 fur " the wrong way." Although it is true that the vertical fur 

 can be smoothed in any direction, it is most unlikely that the 

 peculiarity has been acquired for this purpose, since the animal 

 can. with one or two strokes of his powerful fore-paws, clear 

 enough space to turn round in a couple of seconds. In all proba- 

 bility the upright fur is useful for avoiding the retention of earth, 

 and is easily scratched clean. 



The mole's range, so far as the United Kingdom is concerned, 

 embraces the whole of Great Britain, but not Ireland. It is found 

 , on the summit? of our highest hilis wherever worms exist, but 

 is most plentiful in the low-lying plains. It may also be found 

 burrowing on the sandy sea shores, even as far as the tide marks. 



In order to follow the mole's career it will be convenient to 

 start with an account of the courtship of the parents. 



In early spring both sexes, especially the boars.* travel in 

 search of mates. Their wanderings may often be recognised by 

 small furrows, or tunnels so near the surface as to lift the 

 soil in a ridge. These travelling runs are different from all other 

 runs in that they are always in a straight line : they are usually 

 called " rutting runs." although there is no evidence that pairing 

 takes place within them. The meeting of the boars and sows is 

 fortuitous and promiscuous, no pairs having been known to 

 inhabit a nest together. The female prepares a special nest as a 

 nursery on a somewhat similar but simpler plan than the winter 

 fortress, which will be described later. So far as the writer is 

 aware, no mammal prepares a nursery until well advanced in 



* The sex names are "boar" and "sow. 



