The absence of any external indication of eyes | rending his prey with claws and teeth, and communicates a peculiar dullness to the creat-crunching audibly the body of the worms beure's look, and the formation of the fore limbs tween the sharp points. A mole has been seen gives an indescribable awkwardness to its gait. to fling itself upon a small bird, tear its body We need not pity the mole for the dull life open, and devour it while still palpitating with we suppose it leads below the ground. There life. Nothing short of this fiery energy could it is happy, and there only can it develop its sustain an animal in the lifelong task of forcing various capabilities. No one can witness the itself through the solid earth. eagerness with which it flings itself upon its prey, and the evident enjoyment with which it consumes its hapless victim, without perceiving that the creature is exultantly happy in its own peculiar way. The ordinary mole-hills present nothing particularly worthy of notice. They are the shafts through which the quadrupedal miner ejects the materials which it has scooped out, as it drives its many tunnels through the soil, and if they be carefully opened after the rain has consolidated the heap of loose material, nothing more will be discovered than a simple hole leading into the tunnel. But if we strike into one of the large tunnels, and follow it up, we come to the real abode of the animal. A section of this extraordinary habitation, hidden under a hillock of considerable size, is given in the illustration on the preceding page. The central apartment is a nearly spherical chamber, the roof of which is nearly on a level with the earth around the hill, and therefore situated at a considerable depth from the apex of the heap. Around this are driven two circular galleries-one just level with the ceiling, and the other at some height above. The upper circle is much smaller than the lower. Five short descending passages connect the galleries with each other, but the only entrance into the inner apartment is from the upper gallery, out of which three passages lead into the ceiling. It will be seen, therefore, that when a mole enters the house from one of his tunnels, he has first to get into the lower gallery, to ascend thence to the upper gallery, and so descend into his chamber. There is, however, another entrance from below, by a passage which dips downward from the centre of the chamber, and then, taking a curve upward, opens into one of the larger tunnels. The use of so complicated a series of cells and passages is extremely doubtful, since there is reason to believe that the owner, instead of retiring to his fortress to rest, often contents himself with lying in the high-road. Wonderful as is this subterraneous abode, it is not the only one constructed by this animal. A nursery is provided, more extended, though simpler, inlaid with dried grass, and intersected by many passages, so that the mother and young may casily escape from any apprehended danger. The walls of all these passages are rendered smooth and hard by the pressure of the mole's fur, so that the earth will not fall in after the severest storm. The whole life of the mole is one of fury, and he eats like a starving tiger, tearing and A battle between two moles is as tremendous as one between two lions, if not more so, because the mole is more courageous than the lion, and, relatively speaking, is far more powerful and armed with weapons more destructive. Magnify the mole to the size of the lion, and you will have a beast more terrible than the world has yet seen. Though nearly blind, it would be active beyond conception, leaping with lightning quickness upon any animal which it met, and rending it to pieces in a moment. Such a creature would, without the least hesitation, devour a serpent twenty feet in length, and so terrible would be its voracity that it would eat twenty or thirty of such snakes in the course of a day. When fighting with one of his own species the mole gives his whole energies to the destruction of his opponent, without seeming to heed the injuries which are inflicted upon himself, exhibiting an extraordinary amount of muscular power concentrated into a very small space. The mole emerges from the earth with unsoiled fur. This cleanliness is due in part to the peculiar character of the hair, and partly to strong membraneous muscle beneath the skin, by means of which the animal gives itself a frequent and powerful shake. There are many burrowing animals, but the mole is emphatically the burrower-the very type of a creature which is intended to pass the whole of an active existence under ground. He absolutely riots in the exuberance of animal spirits and muscular activity, passing through the earth almost like a fish through the water, and giving to its strange and apparently sombre life a poetry and an interest which we fail to find in the lives of many creatures more richly endowed with external beauty. The Arctic Fox, an animal which dwells in the polar regions, is notable for the extent and structure of the burrow. In order to shield itself from the inclemency of the climate it digs to a considerable depth; and it is rather remarkable that a solitary burrow is seldom found, twenty or thirty foxes generally sinking their tunnels in close proximity to each other. If one of these little colonies could be laid open a very curious sight would present itself. The earth would be seen to be pierced with multitudinous tunnels, each complete and independent in itself, and never interfering with burrows belonging to other owners. Each burrow, too, is of a very complex character, consisting of three or four distinct passages, each of which opens into a common chamber of considerable dimensions. There is also a separate nursery, communicating by a passage with this at night. Herein the mother produces and chamber, where four or five young are reared. nurtures her young, and sometimes on a sumThe Arctic Fox has been subjected to a mer-mer's evening the whole family, the father, ciless persecution on account of the value of its skin; and consequently it has become so exceedingly crafty that it is caught with the greatest difficulty. Curious tales are told how they have learned to remove the baits without falling into the traps or being shot by the spring guns. Even in its ordinary state the skin of the Arctic Fox is in great favor as a fur; but when it is bleached by the dread cold of the regions in which the animal resides, and is of a pure snowy whiteness down to the very roots of the hair, it is so exceedingly costly that a mantle made of that fur is only to be purchased by millionaires, or placed on imperial shoulders. The fur of a fine old fox in perfect condition is worth many times its weight in gold. The habitation of the common fox is by no means so complicated as that of the Arctic species. It avoids, when possible, the labor of burrowing, and avails itself of the deserted home of a badger, or even of a rabbit, altering and enlarging to suit its own purposes. Herein it lies asleep all day, as is the custom with most predaceous animals, and only sallies forth mother, and cubs come out to enjoy the fresh air. They never wander far from the mouth of the burrow, and as the young are gamesome little creatures, as playful as puppies, and much prettier, and the mother helps her young ones in their sports as a good mother ought to do, the group presents a very pretty sight. Though there is but one burrow for the nursery the fox generally has access to "earths," as they are called, at considerable distances apart, to any one of which he will repair if danger threatens. The Prairie Dog, so called from the short, yelping sound which it utters, is a pretty animal, about sixteen inches long. Its head is peculiarly flat, which gives it a remarkable aspect. It is an exceedingly prolific animal, multiplying rapidly, and extending its excavations to vast distances. Indeed, when once the Prairie Dogs settle themselves in a convenient spot, their increase seems to have no bounds, and the little heaps of earth which stand near the mouth of their burrows extend as far as the eye can reach. They are dug in a sloping direction, forming an angle of about forty-five degrees with the horizon, and after descending for five or six feet, they take a sudden turn and rise gradually upward. Thousands upon thousands of these burrows are dug in close proximity to each other, and noney-comb the ground to such an extent that it is rendered quite unsafe for horses. The scene presented by one of these "dog towns" or "villages," as the assemblages of burrows are called, is most curious, and well repays the trouble of approaching without alarming the cautious little animals. Fortunately for the traveler the Prairie Dog is as inquisitive as it is wary, and the indulgence of its curiosity often costs the little creature its life. Perched on the hillocks, which have already been mentioned, the Prairie Dog is able to survey a wide extent of horizon, and as soon as it sees an intruder, it gives a sharp yelp of alarm and dives into its burrow, its little feet knocking together with a ludicrous flourish as it disappears. In all directions a similar scene is enacted. Warned by the well-known cry, all the Prairie Dogs within reach repeat the call and leap into their burrows. | Polar Bear, its only use being to shelter the Their curiosity, however, is irrepressible, and young. Before retiring into winter-quarters scarcely have their feet vanished from sight the bear eats enormously, and, driven by an than their heads are seen cautiously protruded unfailing instinct, resorts to the most nutritious from the burrow, and their inquisitive brown diet, so that it becomes prodigiously fat. eyes sparkle as they examine the cause of the disturbance. The Prairie Dog has not the privilege of possessing a home for its own exclusive use; the Burrowing Owl and terrible rattlesnake take forcible possession of the burrows. Formerly it was supposed that these incongruous beings associated together in perfect harmony, forming a sort of "Happy Family" below the surface of the ground. But all these romantic notions have been dispelled by the naturalist, and the snake has been proved to be no welcome guest, but an intruder on the premises, self-billeted on the inmates like soldiers on obnoxious householders, procuring lodging with- | out permission, and eating the inhabitants by way of board; and it is not impossible that the owl may snap up a young and tender Prairie Dog in its early infancy. It is well known that the rabbit lives socially in burrows-a number of them forming a warren. They seek a loose, sandy locality, where the soil is easily excavated, and where furze abounds, the young shoots of which furnish them with nutritious food. During the three months of her seclusion she takes no food, but exists upon the store of fat which has been accumulated before retiring to her winter home. A similar phenomenon. may be observed in many of the hibernating animals, but in the bear it is more remarkable from the fact that she has not only to support her own existence, but to impart nourishment to her offspring. It is true, that in order to enable them to find sufficient food, they are of wonderfully small dimensions when compared with the parent; but the fact remains, that the animal is able to lay up within itself so large a store of nutriment that it can maintain its own life and suckle its young for a space of three months without taking a morsel of food. The various species of Armadillo are all mighty burrowers. They are carnivorous, and feed upon insects, and all kind of animal substances found below the surface of the earth. The Giant Armadillo is so determined a burrower that it has often been known to dig up dead bodies for the purpose of feeding on them. All these creatures, however, are fond of aniWhen once estab-mal substances, and many of them may be found upon the savannas of South America, feasting greedily upon the bodies of the cattle which are slaughtered so recklessly for the sake of their hides. In all these animals the coat of mail is exceedingly hard, so hard indeed that it is used for sharpening the long Spanish knife. lished they increase with incredible rapidity. The creature becomes a parent at a very early age; and by the time a rabbit is a year old, it may have attained the dignity of a grand-parent. She does not produce her young in any of the burrows to which the general rabbit colony has access, but prepares an isolated tunnel, at the end of which she forms her nest. The bed on which the young recline is beautifully soft and fine, being composed chiefly of the downy fur which grows on the mother's breast, and which she plucks off with her teeth in tufts of considerable size. The Polar Bear makes its curious burrow in a peculiar substance, and is worthy of special notice. Toward the month of December she retreats to the side of a rock, where, by dint of scraping, and allowing the snow to fall upon her, she forms a cell in which to reside during the period of her accouchement. Within this strange nursery she produces her young, and remains with them beneath the snow until the month of March, when she emerges into the outer air, bringing with her the baby bears, who are then about as large as ordinary rabbits. As the time passes on, the breath of the family, together with the warmth exhaled from their bodies, serves to enlarge the cell, so that in proportion with their increasing dimensions the accommodation is increased to suit them. As is the case with the snow-covered sheep, the hidden bear may be discovered by means of the little hole which is made by the warm breath, and is rendered more distinguishable by the hoar-frost which collects around it. If an Armadillo should be surprised at any time, and its retreat to its burrow intercepted, it at once commences sinking a new tunnel; and so rapidly does it excavate, that it is almost impossible to capture one. The coat of mail is perfectly flexible, giving full freedom to the limbs, and permitting the animal to roll itself into a ball when threatened with danger. The curious Aard Vark of Southern Africa resides for the most part in great holes which it scoops in the ground. The name signifies Earth-hog, and is given to the animal on account of its extraordinary powers of excavation and the swine-like contour of its head. The claws with which this animal works are enormous, and are by no means intended merely to excavate burrows in soft or sandy soil, though they are frequently employed for that purpose. By means of these implements the Aard Vark tears to pieces the enormous ant-hills which stud the plains of Southern Africa-edifices so strongly made as to resemble stone rather than mud, and capable of bearing the weight of many men on their summits. These marvelous dwellings are absolutely swarming with inmates; and it is for the purpose of feeding upon the tiny builders that the Aard Vark plies its destructive labors. Toward evening the Aard Vark issues from This curious abode is not sought by every the burrow wherein it has lain asleep during |