62 
NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
the two circular galleries, with openings into all 
the passages. Here the mole sleeps, and from 
this safety chamber he can escape at a moment’s 
warning. Food prospecting in seasons of drouth 
is carried on from the lower gallery, and in time 
passages branch and counter-branch from this in 
all directions. The young moles are brought 
forth in litters of four or five in the spring; some 
claim there is also a fall litter, but the point is de¬ 
batable. The young are not born in the central 
sleeping chamber, but in a special nursery which 
has been carefully lined with leaves and other 
warm materials especially for their coming. 
“ Moles are wonderfully adapted to their pe¬ 
culiar manner of life. Witness first their soft 
beautiful coats of fur, which are always smooth 
no matter in which direction they are brushed. 
This is very fortunate; if the mole’s fur ruffled 
up like some furs do, he would have all sorts of 
trouble in his tight-fitting passageways. Again, 
his spade-like paws are peculiarly fitted for shov¬ 
eling dirt. Each paw is composed of five fingers, 
which are armed with strong, sharp claws. The 
paws are turned outwardly so that the mole can 
toss the dirt to one side with little exertion. 
Moreover, as the creature must spend its life dig¬ 
ging, its strength is nearly all placed in its shoul¬ 
ders and paws, where it can be used to the last 
ounce. 
