THE MOLE. 



83 



ticular circumstances, it is very fierce and voracious. It re- 

 quires damp mould for the purpose of living. The colour is 

 sometimes white, spotted, and cream-coloured. It swims 

 well. 



The health of the mole is liable to be injured by the too 

 free access of air, and it very frequently changes its subter- 

 ranean habitations. It is commonly found in soft fertile 

 soils, and never in miry, nor in gravelly grounds. When 

 surprised by water, it springs in haste to the surface; and in 

 winter, and during rains, it betakes itself to the upper 

 grounds, which are less liable to be inundated. In the 

 spring it descends to the meadows, where it finds a loosened 

 soil, and roots to feed upon. In long droughts it flies to 

 ditches, or to the shelter of hedges, and near to a stream. 

 In the spring months of February, March, April, and May, 

 the female produces four or five young ones at a birth, in an 

 arched recess prepared for the purpose under ground, in a 

 situation somewhat elevated, and under cover of a bush or 

 hedge. Four or five mole-hills are generally to be observed 

 very near to the upper side of this recess. The animal 

 cannot live long without being at work. Being obliged to 

 search under ground for its food, as insects and roots, it 

 forms very long tunnels or subterraneous passages that are 

 generally parallel to the surface of the earth, and vary in 

 depth from four to six inches, according to the changes of 

 the seasons. Being equally afraid of cold and heat, they 

 make the passages the deepest in summer and in winter. 

 They are very timid when they perceive themselves in 

 danger; they often penetrate perpendicularly to the depth 

 of one foot and a half, below the level of their ordinary 

 residence. The mole works in all seasons, but more lan- 

 guidly in winter. The male is very much stronger than the 

 female, and raises a greater number of larger hills. Young 

 moles raise shallower passages than the old ones. Moles 

 work most briskly at sunrise and sun-setting: in time of 

 droughts, they throw up hills only at sun-setting. In 

 winter, they work only during gleams of sunshine. 



When a mole changes its place, it throws up three, four, 



G 2 



