CARNIVORA. 
^291 
time they may most easily be taken. Its nourish- 
ment consists of insects, worms, and some tender 
roots ; and, although the jaws are said to be weak, 
it is thought to be ferocious, as it has been known 
to destroy and devour both a toad and a viper. The 
female brings four or five young in the month of 
May, which she fosters in a bed of leaves and grass, 
carefully made in her subterranean retreat. In 
forming this it evinces much sagacity, or instinct ; 
as well as in migrating from ground too dry for its 
sustenance, or such as, from its situation, is likely 
to become flooded at times. 
Buffbn, in his fascinating work, expatiates at con- 
siderable length on the quietness and retirement of 
the life of the mole. 
There are several varieties of the mole ; as the 
yellow mole of Pennant; the spotted mole of Brisson ; 
and the white mole of Seba; beside those which 
were formerly considered species of this genus, but 
are now transferred into others, or made distinct 
genera. 
