The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-26
The Fiercest Animal II the Wcr.i
Interior.

Interior.
Tie mole i also provided with jaw,
and claws tina; are perfectly adapted
for defense and for aggressive fighting
Its claws are strong and tenacious
and with a few strokes it can di-ern-
bowel its prey and prepare the warm
meat for eating. 1t IS not only ii 70
racious eater, but fierce and merci-
less destroyer. 1t will often kill mere
Is for the sake Of destroying. and for
its size it is probably the strongest
and most ferocious creature that
we have. II spends night and day in
pursuing the earth worms through the
ground to devOur them. and its appe-
tite never seems to be satisfied
\ strange figure Of the mole magni-
fled to the size Of tiger or lion has
been drawn by a zoologist, and it was
labeled as the fercest and most destruc-
tive animal Of the world 1t could
disembowel and devour an oxe within
a few minutes, pursue enormous py-
thons twenty feet long and eat them
by the dozens 1t could easily out
strip the tiger in swiftness, and vie
successfully with the lion and elephant
in strength Its fcrocity would be
like the greedy natures Of the wild
wolves, and altogether it would be an
animal to be universally dreaded
Fortunately for all the mole is very
small creature, and it pursues its de-
structive trade in the dark recessea of
the ground. Nevertheless in its pecu-
liar sphere it is to be dreaded as much
as if it were larger Earth worms are
destroyed by the millions. and corn.
seeds and vines are devOured with the
same rapidity by the small monster.
IN one night it Will completely honey
comb a small field with its burrows
when searching tor food. The animal
cannot be caught by trying to stamp
upon it even when the earth is seen
to move, nor can it be caught at such
times by digging hastily down at the
exact point where the dirt was seen
to move Before the dirt can be
thrown up the mole will have escaped
to some deeper chamber of its hunting
ground. Occasionally the mole catch
es a sleeping bird at night or a small
mouse. In either instance it will tear
and lend its prey to pieces with savage
haste and Yluttony, often merely suck
ing the warm blood and leaving the
carcass behind to rot. In short, it kills
every living creature that it can con-
quer and nearly every small animal
hulries away from the fcrocious war
riOr
Its home is an elaborate arrange
ment The beavers home, SO often
used as an illustration for great under
ground burroving, is far surpassed by
the mole's suhterranean dwelling place
Its home will generally be located in
some unprctentions place near a tree
or stump and from this point cham
hcrs viii rr,n in every conceivable di-
rcctiun II i lll>c j SPIDERS web j u
strange animal gets into the hole it rare
" succeeds in getting ont again except
by accident Ii may wander around
for DAYS. and become bcWildcred the
more it tries to get out Of the labyrinth.
The mole nevertheless is perfectly at
home in the chambers, and although
defective in vision it can find its way
around with Incredible activity. Ev-
cry CHAMBER is made for purpose. and
the animal can burrOW in 4 straight
line toward point and never miss it.
This peculiar instinct is simply rmex-
plainable.