Vermin of the Farm. 
465 
pasture, park lauds, warrens, and downs, but it may also be 
found in barren lands, on clay soils, and on hills. 
Whether the mole is injurious or not from an agriculturist’s 
point of view is a question upon which, probably, there will 
always be a difference of opinion. Many farmers will state 
that mole-hills are not only very unsightly, but that they 
prevent the mowing grass from being properly cut. They 
apparently overlook the fact that if the hillocks were broken up, 
and the hne soil of which they are composed were spread over 
the surface, they would have an excellent and inexpensive top- 
dressing for their fields. Another recommendation lies in the 
fact that some amount of surface drainage is effected by the 
moles’ “ runs ” ; while a third, and perhaps the most important 
consideration, is the fact that the mole preys not only upon 
earthworms but also upon the larvae of many coleopterous and 
dipterous insects, which are very destructive to the roots of 
grasses and other field crops. On this account, then, if on 
no other, it surely deserves protection. The late Mr. Henry 
Reeks, of Thruxton, near Andover, who was a practical farmer 
as well as a good naturalist, was strongly in favour of sparing 
the moles upon agidcultural land.* 
The quantity of worms which a mole will consume in a day is 
very considerable. The late Mr. William Thompson, of Belfast, 
wrote : “ I examined the stomach of a mole, and found it entirely 
filled with earthworms. One or two, which were quite perfect, 
were of the short thick species with a yellow band round the 
body.” ^ These must have been swallowed whole, as an Italian 
would eat macaroni. The late Edward Alston, who kept a mole 
for some time in confinement, was quite surpi’ised at its voracity, 
and was of opinion that it would devour more than its own 
weight in a day.® In its eager pursuit of earthworms, the 
mole has been observed to follow them above ground (Zoologist, 
1883, p. 76), and on wet and dewy evenings to hunt above 
ground, like a dog, for worms and field-slugs (Zoologist, 1872, 
p. 3182). A mole-catcher informed Mr. Jesse that, previous to 
the setting in of winter, the mole prepares a sort of basin in a 
bed of clay, which will hold about a quart, and in this it 
deposits a quantity of earthworms, partly mutilated to prevent 
their escape. On these worms it feeds during the winter 
months. The mole-catcher added that when he found few of 
* See Zoologist, 1872, pp. 8181-3. 
* Natural History of Ireland, vol. Iv, p. 4. 
’ This has been observed of other animals, as for example the woodcock 
and snipe, when kept in confinement. 
