2 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



the shoulders slightly tinted with the same colour, the eyes dull black, the 

 snout flesh coloured, as are also the bare parts of the feet, as well as the 

 claws. 



The snout is furnished with a small bone at its extremity. The muscles 

 are extremely developed, especially those of the arm, fore-arm, and hand, and 

 admirably suited to the animal in its peculiar habits. The vision of the 

 Mole is extremely dull, but well suited to an animal destined to spend the 

 greatest portion of its life underground.- The sense of hearing is extremely 

 acute, although it has no external ear to collect the vibrations of the air. Its 

 instantaneous perception of the slightest movements in the air or ground, 

 may, however, be accounted for, by according to it a highly sensitive organiza- 

 tion such as exists in bats. ' 



The food of the mole consists chiefly of earth-worms (Lumhrius terrestrius) , 

 in search of which it burrows its way in the soil, extending its sphere of 

 operations in proportion as its prey diminish in numbers ; but the excessive 

 and unremitting labour required in this pursuit, were it carried on at random, 

 is rendered unnecessary by an instinct which impels it to excavate a series 

 of mines or galleries, along which it can walk without inconvenience, and 

 from different parts of which it proceeds, forcing its way into the hitherto 

 unperforated soil. In forming its underground passages, it works with its 

 fore-feet, which as has been seen, are admirably adapted for scraping away 

 the earth and throwing it backwards, at the same time propelling itself for- 

 ward with its hind feet, which are disposed in the usual way. When it has 

 executed an extended series of runs it can travel along them to any point 

 without difficulty, and finds security in them from the pursuit of many 

 animals, but man employs them as a sure means of entrapping it. 



Each individual seems to appropriate to itself a district or space of ground, 

 in which it forms a kind of fortress, under a mound raised in some secure 

 places, as beneath a bank, or near the roots of a tree. In this retreat, of 

 which the earth is by the mole rendered very compact, is formed a circular 

 gallery communicating with a smaller gallery placed above, by several pass- 

 ages. On the level of the lower or longer gallery is a roundish cavity or 

 chamber, communicating with the upper by two, three, and often four pass- 

 ages. Erom the outer gallery branch off a number of passages, which run 

 out to various lengths, and forming an irregular curve terminate in what may 

 be called the high road, from which branches a long passage proceeding from 

 the lower or larger gallery, at the same time communicating directly with the 

 central cavity. It extends to the furthest extent of its domain, is of some- 

 what greater diameter than the body of the animal, has its walls comparatively 

 compact, and communicates with the numerous passages by which the animal's 



