238 
NESTING HABITS OF THE COMMON MOLE. 
WM. FALCONER, 
Slaithwaite , Huddersfield. 
When at Wicken (Cambs.) during Whit-week, I became- 
acquainted with some very interesting variations in the 
nesting habits of the mole, which are evidently adaptations- 
to the varying water conditions in the soil. In the dryest of 
seasons in the fen, water is never far from the surface, and, 
if the moles, which live there, made their nests in the usuaL 
manner by burrowing, percolating water would very soon 
find its way in and the helpless broods perish. However 
the}’ have come by the knowledge, they have learnt not to 
do so. but merely construct a sort of spherical nest of lengths 
and bits of old dry leaves, and deposit it amongst bedding' 
of the same materials in a hollow of the ground between tufts 
of sedge and grass, and concealed by them. Incidentally 
while collecting in the fen, I found two such nests so situated, 
each somewhat larger than a cricket ball, and containing 
five naked young ones. Although the materials were not 
fastened together in any way, being only loosely interwoven, 
the structure was compact enough to be taken up into the 
hand and examined without falling to pieces or disturbing 
the young. 
I have not visited the fen during a wet season when the 
higher level of the water renders even such a method as the one 
described above impossible, but on making inquiries I was 
informed that the moles then build very high and compara- 
tively massive mounds (containing ‘ as much soil as would fill a 
wheelbarrow ’), and are thus able to rear their families, without 
the risk of a watery grave. 
The mole is hardly wise enough to foretell the kind of 
season, but probably chooses its method in accordance with 
the conditions which obtain at the time it begins the process 
of nidification, and may occasionally, after having prepared 
for a dry season, be overwhelmed by a sudden alteration in: 
the weather. 
: o : 
We regret to learn of the death of Wr. John Stears, of Hessle, near Hull, 
at the age of 76, who a quarter of a century ago was secretary to the old 
Hull Field Naturalists’ Society, and took a great interest in geology, and 
for many years was local treasurer to the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. 
He is perhaps best known as a ’ water diviner,’ and the present writer 
believes that he seriously and conscientiously considered that he had the 
power of finding water by means of a bent hazel stick or a bent wire. He 
also claimed to be able to detect metals in a similar way. He was con- 
sulted by various authorities in all parts of Britain, and even went so far 
afield as Jamaica and the shores of the Adriatic for the purpose of finding 
water. He was sometimes successful and sometimes not. 
M 
Naturalist, 
