OBSERVxVTIONS ON THE MOLE, 
Each of the males, when taken up in that torn state, were 
still warm. 
The mole constructs a snug, comfortable nest, in which 
to deposit her kittens. It is commonly found in a grass or 
corn field, about even with, or at no great distance below, 
the surface of the ground, and formed of grass, moss^ 
stubble, or whatever else the field produces. It is always, 
of course, covered above ; and, to prevent the rain from 
penetrating through the roof, there are placed on tlie top 
of this two drains or gutters, at right angles to one another, 
formed of consolidated earth, and having a gentle slope, in 
all the four directions, away from the nest. A jakes, or 
place for retiring to when about to evacuate the fseces, is 
always found at a little distance from the nest, say nine or 
ten inches distant. 
The food of this animal seems to consist mostly of the 
common earth-worm, and it is in pursuit of these that it 
makes such mighty efforts in the formation of its subterra- 
neous roads, and thereby often annoys so greatly the gar- 
dener and the farmer. The worms themselves often per- 
ceive the approach of their enemy, and struggle to escape 
from him. Mr Fletcher has seen them flee from the 
mole, and the latter come out of the ground after them, 
and catch them. But moles seem to prey upon other ani- 
mals besides the worm, for this same observer once saw 
a mole that had seized a frog, and was killing it.— It is 
commonly thought that the mole goes every day to the 
water to drink. Mr Fletcher, however, doubts the truth 
of this very much. After many years observation, with 
the best opportunities, he has never once seen them drink. 
He is likewise disposed to believe, that they do not void 
urine separately from the fseces; but as dissection shews 
that this quadruped, like every other we are acquainted 
with, has a urinary bladder, the above opinion is rendered 
