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static glands ; but the testes in this case had not yet 

 returned to the small size which they exhibit in winter. 

 No. 2510 is a preparation showing a side view of the male 

 organs of generation; and No. 2511 exhibits the male 

 organs of Chrysochloris capensis. (Cat., vol. iv.) 



The increase and decrease of the testes in BIRDS and 

 FROGS are well shown in preparations in the same noble 

 museum ; the first in Nos. 2A57 to 24G2 (both inclusive), 

 the second in Nos. 2412 and 2411. John Hunter, in his 

 ' Animal CEconomy,' observes that these seasonal or peri- 

 odical changes are common to all animals which have 

 their seasons of copulation. ' In the buck,' says that great 

 physiologist, ' we find the testicles are reduced to a very 

 small size in winter ; and in the land-mouse, mole, &c. 

 this diminution is still more remarkable. Animals, on the 

 contrary, who are not in a state of nature, have no such 

 change take place in their testicles ; and not being much 

 affected by seasons, are consequently always in good con- 

 dition, or in a state to which other animals that are left to 

 themselves can only attain in the warmer season. There- 

 fore in man, who is in the state we have last described, 

 the testicles are nearly of the same size in winter as in 

 summer ; and nearly, though not exactly, the same thing 

 may be observed in the horse, ram, &c., these animals 

 having their seasons in a Certain degree. The variation 

 above taken notice of is not confined to the testicles, but 

 also extends to the parts which are connected with them : 

 for in those animals that have their seasons for propagation 

 the most distinctly marked, as the land-mouse, mole, &c., 

 the vesiculce are hardly discernible in the winter; but in 

 the spring they arc very large, varying in size in a manner 

 similar 1o the testicle. It may however be alleged that 

 the change in tlu>c bairs might naturally be supposed to 

 take place, even admitting them to be seminal reservoirs ; 

 but what, happens in the prostate gland, which has never 

 been supposed to contain semen, will take off the force of 

 this objection; since in all animals which have such a 

 gland, and which have their season for propagation, it 

 undergoes a limited change. In the mole the prostate 

 ffland is hardly discernible, but in the spring becomes very 



and is tilled with mucus.' 



No. 2807 exhibits the posterior part of a mole (Talpa 

 Ei'i-'ijietii ', \vith the female generative and urinary organs 

 exposed. The uterus is turned to the right side, princi- 

 pally to display the course and attachments of the ovarian 

 and uterine ligaments. The ovarian ligament commences 

 anterior and external to the kidney, and carries forward 

 with it a fold of the peritoneum as it advances to the 

 ovarium. The uterine ligament, or liganientum rotun- 

 dum, is continued from the extremity of the cornu uteri, 

 and runs along the posterior edge of the preceding fold 

 to the part corresponding to the abdominal ring in the 

 male, where it expands upon the fascia. The left ovary 

 and oviduct, the cornua and corpus uteri, are also ex- 

 hibited. The ovary is tuberculate, and inclosed in an 

 almost, complete peritoneal capsule. The oviduct is 

 attached to this capsule, and pursues a wavy course to the 

 horn of the uterus. Xo. 2808 displays the female organs 

 of a moil! / tii't//, the vential parietes of the abdomen and 

 chylopoietic viscera having been removed. The cornua 

 .drical tubes, describe three abrupt curves before 

 joining the corpus uteri, with uliieli they form almost a 

 risrht angle. The body of the uterus is continued without 

 any constriction or interruption into the vagina: the 

 whole canal is somewhat flattened, and is disposed in two 

 or lh folds before it leaves the abdo- 



men. No. USOJ is al.-,u the posterior half of a mole, with 

 mali- or^ms similarly displayed, but minutely in- 

 i. Tin- cornua uteri are divaricated, to display the 

 it of the broad liiraments. No. 2810 is :i MM-IIOII of a 

 mole, in which the left ovary, oviduct, and uterine horn, and 

 the left side of the uterus and vairiua, liuvc been removed, 

 but exposing the remainder of the generative apparatus 

 hibitiiig its relative position to the urinary 

 bladder, tin.' rectum, and the pelvis. The contracted area 

 uterine cavity, the absence of anyos tmene dividing 

 it fiorn the vagina, and the distinct, muscular and internal 

 memhi.Tious tunics of the flattened tortuous utero-vaginal 

 . aic clear!} -displayed. A bristle is inserted into the 

 i] of the uti'rii>, ami another is passed through 



I by the urethra. ' '1 



cotiti: . the author of the catalogue, 



' the agina, and rectum open by distinct 01 



on the exterior of the body, and all three canals he 

 anterior to the pubic bones, and consequently outside the. 

 pelvis.' 



No. 1234 of the same series exhibits the kidney of a 

 mole injected and longitudinally divided. Theuninjected 

 tubuli may be plainly seen extending through the cortical 

 substance, as is shown in the injections of the kidney of 

 the horse, Nos. 1209 to 1214, both inclusive. (Cat., vol.ii.) 



Generic Character. Body stout and thick, furry ; 

 head elongated, pointed ; muzzle cartilaginous, strength.' 

 ened by the snout-bone ; eyes very small ; no external 

 ears ; anterior feet short and wide, with five united toes 

 armed with trenchant nails proper for digging ; posterior 

 feet with five toes also, but weak ; tail short. 



Dental Formula : Incisors - ; canines jr ; molars 

 o 



Teeth of Mole, considerably enlarged. (F. C'uv.) 



Example, Talpa Europera, the common mole. 



This well-known animal, so familiar to all that it would 

 be a needless waste of space to describe it, is La Taupe of 

 the French, Talpa of uie antient and modern Italians, 

 Topo of the Spanish, Toupeira of the Portuguese, Maul- 

 imrf of the Germans, Mol of the Dutch, Muload and Stirk 

 of the Swedes. M/;!dt:arp of the Danes ; Male, Mole-warp, 

 Moldwarp, and Want of the modern British; and Givadd 

 and Twrch daear of the antient British. 



Habits, Fond, Reproduction, $-c. 'A subterraneous 

 life,' says Pennant, speaking of the mole, ' being allotted 

 to it, the seeming defects of seveial of its paits vanish; 

 which, instead of appearing maimed or unfinished, ex- 

 hibit a most striking proof of the fitness of their con- 

 trivance. The breadth, strength, and shortness of the 

 fore-feet, which are inclined sideways, answer the use a 

 well as the form of hands, to scoop out the earth, to form 

 its habitation, or to puisne its prey. Had they been 

 longer, the falling in of the earth would have prevented 

 the quick repetition of its strokes in working, or have im- 

 peded its course : the oblique position of the fore-feet has 

 also this advantage, that it. flings all the loose soil behind 

 the animal. 



' The form of the body is not less admirably contrived for 

 its way of life : the fore-part is thick and very muscular, 

 yuin:/ irre.al strength to the action of the fore-pait, en- 

 abling it to dig its way with great force and rapidity, either 

 to pursue its prey or elude the search of the most active 

 enemy. The form of its hind parts, which are small and 

 taper, enables it to pass with great, facility through the 

 earth that the fore-feet had flung behind j for had each 

 part of the body been of equal thickness, its flight would 

 have been impeded and its security precarious. 



' The skin is most excessively compact, and so tough as 

 not to be cut but by a very sharp knife ; the hair is very 

 short and close-set, and softer than the finest silk; the 

 usual colour is black, not but that there are instances of 

 these animals being spotted, and a cream-coloured breed 

 is sometimes found in my lands near Downing. 



D2 



