_An Evening Stroll._
As the weather was remarkably pleasant, Mrs. Mansfield proposed having
tea earlier than usual, that they might afterwards have time for a walk;
and the rest of the party approving the scheme, they set off in high
spirits, the moment that meal was concluded. Mrs. Mansfield was not a
very good walker, but she leaned upon her husband’s arm, and enjoyed
the fineness of the evening. It was not their intention to go to any
great distance from home; so when they came to a stile, or the stump of
a tree, she sat down to rest herself, and take a view of the country;
during which time, the little boys amused themselves by running backwards
and forwards, and would frequently pick up some flower or curious little
pebble, and bring it to their grandpapa, to inquire its name and use. As
they were proceeding gently by the side of a large pond, they saw a great
number of birds skimming over the surface in all directions. In answer to
Arthur’s inquiries, Mr. Mansfield replied that they were swallows, and
that they were flying about in quest of food.
“What food,” asked Charles, “can they possibly expect to find growing
upon the pond?”
“Flies and insects,” answered his grandfather, “are the proper food for
swallows; and many of them constantly sport on the water.”
“And swallows,” said Mrs. Mansfield, “are thought to be of great use, by
destroying so many millions of them, which would otherwise multiply so
fast, as to be quite a nuisance to the world.”
_Charles._ Can they catch them as they fly?
_Mrs. Mansfield._ Yes, my dear. Their mouths are made large that they
may take in their prey the more easily; and indeed, every part of the
swallow is wonderfully adapted to its nature and manner of living.
_Arthur._ How do you mean, grandmamma?
_Mrs. Mansfield._ As in pursuit of insects it is necessary for them to
be almost constantly on the wing, their bodies are very light and small;
and the wings being long in proportion, they fly with great ease and
swiftness. This is more particularly needful to them, because they are
birds of passage; that is, they go to different countries according to
the season of the year. They come over here in large flocks about the
middle of April; and in October they assemble again in great numbers, and
fly across the sea to some warmer climate. They make their nests with
clay, and line them with feathers and soft grass, and build them chiefly
a little way down the tops of chimneys, or under the eaves of houses. As
they have little occasion to be upon the ground, their legs are short and
ill adapted for walking.
“Your observation, my dear,” said Mr. Mansfield, “that swallows are
formed in the best manner possible for their habits of life, is perfectly
just; but it should not be confined to them. The God of Nature has
equally adapted every other kind of bird, and, I may add, every animal,
to the state for which he designed it.”
_Arthur._ Has he, indeed, grandpapa! I wish you would tell me about them,
then. I should like you should give me an account of every creature that
lives.
_Mr. Mansfield._ Oh, my dear! I am much too ignorant of Natural History
to be able to do that. Indeed, I know very little of it; but the more
I read and the more I observe, the greater reason I see to admire the
wonderful goodness and wisdom of the Almighty.
At this instant, Charles, who had been running to a little distance,
returned with great speed, bringing with him, by the hinder leg, a dead
animal he had picked up, rather smaller than a common rat, but broader in
proportion to its length.
“What is this, what is this?” asked he.
“A mole,” replied Mrs. Mansfield, who saw it first.
“A mole!” repeated her husband: “Oh, bring it to us, then. This little
animal, Arthur, will serve as an instance of what I was saying; for no
creature can be more exactly suited to its mode of life.”
“How, sir?” inquired Arthur.
“In the first place,” returned Mr. Mansfield, “you should be informed
that the mole lives almost constantly under ground; as its food consists
of worms and little insects that it finds in the earth. It is therefore
necessary for it to be able to work its way through the earth; and if you
examine it well, you will find it admirably constructed for that purpose.”
“Indeed,” said Arthur, “_I_ see nothing very particular in it.”
_Mr. Mansfield._ Look at its fore-feet. They are broad, strong, and
short; not set straight from the body, but inclining a little sideways.
By means of this position, it is enabled, as it burrows its way, to cast
off the mould on each side, so as to make for itself a hollow passage in
the middle. Their breadth likewise serves the purpose of hands, to form
their nests, scoop out the earth, and seize their prey. The form of the
body is equally well contrived. The fore part is thick and strong, so
that it can dig its way with wonderful quickness, either to pursue its
prey or to escape from its enemies; whilst the hinder parts being small
and taper, enable it to pass easily through the loose earth that the
fore-feet had flung behind.
“It is of a clean black colour,” said Charles; “and the hair is short,
thick, and very soft.”
“True,” said Mr. Mansfield. “And the skin is so tough that it would
require a sharp knife to cut it. It is not therefore liable to be injured
by flints, or other stones that it may meet with in its passage under
ground. Now let me see which of you can find its eyes.”
_Charles._ The eyes, the eyes! grandpapa, this mole must be without eyes!
_Arthur._ I would find them if I could, but it certainly has none.
Mr. Mansfield parted the hair, and pointed out two very small specks.
“The smallness of the eyes,” said he, “is to this animal a peculiar
happiness. Had they been larger, they would have been liable to frequent
injuries, from the mould falling into them; and of what use would they be
to him, when destined to pass his whole life where no light could reach
him?”
_Arthur._ But then, sir, how do they see to get their food?
_Mr. Mansfield._ They do _not see_ it, Arthur; they find it out by their
smell, which as well as their hearing is very acute: so that, though
nearly blind, they are not without the means of providing for their
support, and of knowing how to avoid danger. The eye is, therefore,
merely given them to let them know that they are out of the way when
they see the light. The mole shows great art in skinning worms, which it
always does before it eats them; stripping the skin from end to end,
and squeezing out all the contents of the body. During summer they run
in search of snails and worms, in the night-time, among the grass; which
often makes them the prey of owls. Moles do a good deal of mischief in
fields and gardens; because, by running under the earth, they loosen the
roots of plants and corn. But yet they are of use, as every thing living
is, in the grand system of Nature: their prey would without them so
multiply, that they themselves would commit greater mischief than we fear
from moles.