OBSERVATIONS ON THE MOLE. 219 
existed in some distant country a little quadruped, covered 
with a very thick and soft down, which lived constantly 
under ground, forming to itself roadways>belQW the surface, 
and travelling in them to the distance of 40, 50, 100, or 
even SOO yards, making these subterranean roads of just 
such a height and breadth as to be convenient for itself, 
and casting up in heaps the superfluous materials in its 
way, and forming to itself convenient and comfortable lodg- 
ings in the bowels of the earth, we should certainly think 
it a very curious, or perhaps an improbable narration. 
But this is nothing more than a description of the Common 
Mble, that little active animal which we all so well know. 
As I have never actually witnessed many of the facts I 
am going to detail concerning the operations and habits of 
the Mole, I must state to the Society, that I take my in- 
formation with regard to them from a most experienced 
and scientific mole-catcher, Mr Robert Fletcher, gar- 
dener in Bonnyrigg, near Dalkeith. Mr Fletcher is a 
man of great ingenuity and accuracy of observation, and 
every dependence is to be put on his statements. He is 
the inventor, too, I would beg leave to observe, of a most 
important improvement in the construction of vineries, 
of which he has now had the experience for many years, 
and finds to answer perfectly. The improvement is the 
making of the vinery of a circular form, so as to enable 
the plants in it to enjoy the benefit of the sun's direct rays 
as long as that luminary is above the horizon. He finds 
this so advantageous to the fruit, that he never misses an 
abundant crop of grapes, and those of a quality superior 
to what are usually produced in houses of the old con- 
struction. General Durham of Largo, and Mr Mil- 
lar of Arnock, have both had grape -houses construct- 
ed on Mr Fletcher's plan, and find them perfectly to 
answer. I have also seen other inventions by him of 
