THE MOLE 203 
state, the gaily-coloured butterflies will emerge. I 
propose to take a few of the larve home, and feed 
them in the little cage that I have for the purpose ; 
it will be interesting to watch their development. 
I will put them into this large pill-box. 
In the second place a Mole has been busy just 
here—notice the mounds of earth it has thrown up, 
and see the lines of its run. Moles are very inter- 
esting creatures ; they are beautifully equipped for 
their mode of existence. The muzzle of a Mole 
is very muscular and splendidly adapted for boring 
in the earth ; the arms and legs are strong and are 
utilized in propelling the animal through its bore, 
as well as in thrusting soil out of its channels ; and 
the hair, or fur, stands up from the body so that the 
Mole can move backwards or forwards unhindered 
by its resistance. It is not correct to say that a 
Mole is blind, although such a statement is com- 
monly made; it has eyes, which although very 
small, are doubtless serviceable. And I don’t think 
the animal is deaf, even in spite of the fact that it 
bears no appearance of ears. 
The Mole has a curious habitation. It makes long 
and complicated tunnels, one of them generally 
leading to water, which the animal drinks very 
freely ; perhaps it needs to wash down the dirt! 
It feeds upon worms and grubs of various kinds. It 
makes its nest of grass, fibre, and leaves under one 
of its larger mounds, and generally has four young. 
I do not think Moles do very much harm, and in 
some respects they do good. Their runs and 
mounds are unsightly, but they consume a number 
of grubs which are injurious to produce. They are 
