458 
PURPLE MOLE, &C, 
animal be alarmed on bis return, and thus induced 
to form a new branch of road rather than open the 
obstructed one. 
“ The traps are then to be set in the frequented 
streets, so as to fit nicely the divided canal. They 
consist of a hollow semi-cylinder of wood ; with 
grooved rings at each end, in which are placed 
nooses of horsehair, fastened loosely by a peg in 
the centre, and stretched above grcfund bj f a bent 
stick. When the mole has passed half way 
through one of the nooses and removes the central 
peg in his progression, the bent stick rises by its 
elasticity, and strangles him.” 
Purple mole. 
This species so completely resembles the com- 
mon European mole in almost every particular 
that it might pass for a variety of that animal. Its 
colour is black, with a strong cast of changeable 
purple ; and the tail is white. It seems to have 
been first described by Seba, and is, according t© 
that author, a native of Virginia, 
Cape mole. 
The Cape mole, called by Mr. Pennant the Si- 
berian, though he says it inhabits the Cape of 
Good Hope and not Siberia, has a short blunt nose ; 
from each corner of its mouth a broad whitish bar, 
pointing upwards along the sides of its head ; the 
upper part of its t body is varied with hair of a 
glossy green, and copper colour ; the under parts 
are brown. On each of the fore feet there are 
three toes with vast claws. On each of the hind 
feet there are five small toes with weak claws. It 
has no fail, but a rotJud rump. 
