MOLE, (I) a small animal of the family Talpidae (see below), (2) a mark, or stain, and particularly a dark-coloured raised spot on the human skin. This word, O.E. mcil, is probably cognate with Lat. maculus, spot. Its meaning of stain is seen in the cor rupted form "iron-mould," properly "iron-mole," a stain pro duced on linen or cloth by rust or ink, (3) a large structure of rubble, stone, or other material, used as a breakwater or pier (see BREAKWATER). This word comes from Lat. moles, a mass, large structure. The "Mole of Hadrian" is the mausoleum of that emperor, now the castle of St. Angelo, at Rome.
In zoology the name of mole is applicable to the common mole (Talpa europaea), a small, soft-furred, burrowing mammal, with minute eyes, and broad, strong fore-limbs, adapted for digging, belonging to the order Insectivora and the family Talpidae. In a wider sense may be included under the same term the other Old World moles, the North American star-nosed and other moles, the African golden moles of the family Chrysochloridae; and, in a still looser sense, to the Asiatic zokors, the African strand-moles, belonging to the order Rodentia, and the Australian marsupial mole.
The common mole is about six inches long, with a tail of one inch. The body is long and cylindrical, and, owing to the forward position of the front limbs, the head appears to rest between the shoulders; the muzzle is long and obtusely pointed, terminated by the nostrils ; the minute eyes are almost hidden by the fur ; the ears are without conches, opening on a level with the surrounding skin ; the fore-limbs are short and muscular, terminating in broad, naked, shovel-shaped feet, the palms directed outwards; the hind-feet are long and narrow, and the toes have slender claws. The body is densely covered with soft, erect,
velvety fur, generally black, with a greyish tinge. Albino and other colour varieties are known.
The food of the mole consists of earthworms, in pursuit of which it forms underground excavations. The mole is most voracious and, if deprived of food, succumbs in from ten to twelve hours. Moles take readily to the water. The sexes come together about the second week in March, and the young—generally from four to six in number—are brought forth in about six weeks.
Much misconception has prevailed with regard to the structure of the mole's "fortress," i.e., the large breeding hillock, which is generally placed in bushes, or amid the roots of a tree; a good account, however, is given by Adams (Mein. Manchester Lit. and Phil. Soc. 1903, vol. 47). Moles are disliked on account of the way in which they spoil lawns and pastures, and they destroy large numbers of the useful earthworm ; but they are useful in aerating and turning the soil. The mole is the most important wild fur-bearing animal of the British Isles (see RJR). The geographi cal distribution of the mole is very wide.