Chapter XV: 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.