COMMON MOLE. 



ous life. The body is thick and cylindric : the 

 snout slender, but very strong and tendinous : the 

 head not distinguished from the body by any ap- 

 pearance of neck; the legs so extremely short as 

 scarce to project perceptibly from the body; the 

 fore feet situated obliquely outwards, excessively 

 strong and broad, and furnished with very large 

 and stout claws, so as to give the animal the 

 power of working under the surface with the ut- 

 most ease and readiness : the hind feet are small 

 in proportion to the fore feet, and are calculated 

 for throwing back with ease the mould from behind 

 the creature, during its subterraneous progress: 

 the tail is short and small: the skin is much 

 thicker and tougher in proportion than in other 

 quadrupeds, and the fur with which it is covered 

 equally surpasses that of other animals in fineness 

 and softness. The muscular strength of the Mole 

 is very great, and it is enabled to force itself 

 into the ground with an extraordinary degree of 

 celerity. The general length of the Mole is about 

 five inches and three quarters, exclusive of the 

 tail, which measures one inch. This animal is 

 supposed to possess the power of hearing in an 

 exquisite degree; and if at any time it emerges 

 from its subterraneous retreat, instantly disap- 

 pears on the approach of any danger. When 

 first taken, either by digging it out or otherwise, 

 it utters a shrill scream, and prepares for defence 

 by exerting the strength of its claws and teeth. 

 According to the Count de Buffou, so lively and 

 reciprocal an attachment subsists between the male 



