to the earth, and it can
dig so fast that anywhere in the grass it will get out of sight in
about a minute.

2. When it is above ground and it scents any danger, it does not run
or climb, but it digs; and, when once under ground, it can keep out of
the way of almost any enemy.

3. As it digs forward, it pushes the dirt backward, and it will go a
long way in a little while. Its hind legs drag behind, and, as they
have little to do, they are weak.

4. It digs along in the dark when its keen little nose scents a worm
or a grub; this it pushes into its mouth with its paw, and eats in an
instant.

5. The meat which it finds below ground has no bones; so its small
teeth are all that it needs to chew with. In some safe place, nearly
always at the foot of a tree, the mole throws up a little mound of
dirt, and in the middle of it builds its nest of dried grass.

6. Then it makes tunnels all around, not any one leading straight up
to the nest. In the picture we see the mole's nest and the tunnels
leading to it. The mole drinks a great deal, and in its tunnels it
digs wells where it can go down and find water.

7. In the summer it keeps near the top of the ground; but in winter it
digs down deeper, to find grubs, and because it is warmer.

8. In digging under ground, the mole destroys the roots of grass and
plants, and does some damage; but it does much more good, by
destroying the grubs which live on the roots of plants.

LESSON XLIII.

_ABOUT THE PORCUPINE._

[Illustration]

1. We find in the woods a curious animal called a hedgehog, but which
is really a porcupine. The hedgehog is found in Europe, and lives upon
insects; the porcupine lives in quite a different way.

2. The porcupine is a little larger than the rabbit. It has short
legs, sharp claws, and a short, broad tail. Like the rabbit, it has
chisel-teeth for gnawing.

3. It climbs easily; but it moves slowly, both in walking and
climbing. Its food is mostly the inside bark of trees. It climbs a
tree, and seldom leaves until it has stripped off most of the bark.

4. As it can not run, it has a curious way of defending itself.
Besides a coat of warm, soft fur, its back and sides are covered thick
with sharp-pointed quills, from two to three inches long.

5. When the porcupine is feeding or going about, these quills lie back
flat, like hair; but when there is any danger, they stand out
straight. Upon the approach of an enemy, it folds up its paws