370 
NATURAL HISTORY . 
been known to naturalists not only that the Mole had eyes, but that these were sufficiently open to 
enable him to see, and at one time considerable obloquy was heaped upon the memory of Aristotle for 
having given origin to a statement to the contrary. It would appear, however, that Aristotle’s 
statement was approximately correct with respect to the southern European species upon which his 
observations were probably made, and the error was that of those naturalists who applied the 
assertions of the Greek philosopher to a different animal. 
Like other great gormandizers, the Mole is an exceedingly thirsty creature. “ Where a colony of 
Moles exists,” says Mr. Bell, a run is always made towards the nearest ditch or pond ;” and the same 
writer states, on the authority of Mr. Jackson, an intelligent Mole-catcher, that where watei* cannot 
conveniently be reached, “ the animal sinks deep, perpendicular shafts, at the bottom of which water 
is always found, to which the Mole has easy access. Sometimes, also according to the observations of 
Mr. Jackson, these wells are full to the brim.” These statements are confirmed by a German Mole- 
catcher, cited by Brohm. 
We have already seen that the essential conditions of the Mole’s life consist in continual burrow- 
FORTRESS. 
ing. Hence, not unnaturally, the animal shows a marked preference for light soils, and through these 
he makes his way with remarkable ease and rapidity. Oken says of a Mole, which he kept for six 
months, that when put into a box of sand, it 
would make its way through the sand almost as 
quickly as a fish through the water. In its 
natural mode of life, however, it by no means 
confines itself to such vagarious proceedings, but 
constructs a most complex habitation, which is 
formed with wxmderful art. 
Each Mole has his own encampment, 
frequently entirely separate from those of his 
fellows, but sometimes the animals evince a 
rather more sociable disposition, and condescend 
to make use of a common passage. But in his 
encampment, each Mole always has his own 
dwelling, which has been, not inappropriately, 
styled his fortress, and this certainly displays 
great ingenuity and skill in its design and con- 
struction (see figure). It is formed under a 
hillock of earth, in a situation which affords 
some protection to the little domicile. Its roof is a firm dome, the earth composing it being pressed 
into a solid mass by the Mole while excavating the internal passages and chambers. Beneath this 
there are two circular galleries, one above the other, the lower one considerably larger than the upper, 
with which it communicates by five nearly equi-distant passages, running slantingly upwards. Within 
the lower circular gallery is situated the actual dwelling-place or chamber, to which access is obtained 
by three passages descending from the upper gallery, so that when within his house the Mole has to 
go both up and down stairs to reach his bedroom. But the chamber has another issue by a passage 
which at first descends for a short distance, and then rises again to lead into the high road running to 
and from the fortress, which is always single ; and, on the other hand, the lower and larger gallery 
gives ofl about nine other passages, which either terminate at a short distance from the fortress, or, 
after making a detour, return into the high road. So cautious is the Mole, that the apertures of these 
passages are said seldom to be made opposite to those which lead from the lower to the upper circular 
gallery. With these arrangements it must be confessed that the Mole has provided admirably for 
being “ not at home” to unwelcome visitors. 
The same caution that prompts the Mole to the formation of so complicated a castle leads him to 
take equal care in the construction of the road leading into it. This usually runs in a direct line from 
one end of the animals camping-ground to the other, and forms a highway by which he can go quickly 
about his business. It is large enough to enable him to pass through it easily, but in making it he is 
careful not to throw out the earth as he does in his ordinary runs, and the whole passage appears to bo 
