518 COMMON MOLE. 



accurate dissections of the eyes of Moles with the 

 help of microscopes, having a doubt whether what 

 we take to be eyes were such or no ; and, upon 

 strict scrutiny, could plainly distinguish the crys- 

 talline and vitreous humours, and the ligamentum 

 ciliare, with the atramentaceous mucus:" the pu- 

 pil he manifestly discerned to be round, and the 

 cornea copped or conical: the eye is at a great 

 distance from the brain, and the optic nerve very 

 long and slender. 



The Mole is reported to feed not only on worms, 

 insects, c. but also on the roots of vegetables; 

 but it is certainly more carnivorous than frugivo- 

 rous. It is even a very fierce and voracious animal 

 in particular circumstances ; and it is observed by 

 Sir Thomas Brown, that whatever these animals 

 be contented with under ground, yet, when above 

 it, they will sometimes tear and eat one another; 

 and in a large glass case, wherein a mole, a toad, 

 and a viper were inclosed, we have known (says 

 he) the Mole to dispatch them, and to devour a 

 good part of them both. 



The Mole is with difficulty kept alive in a state 

 of confinement, unless constantly -supplied with a 

 provision of damp mould to reside in. 



Like other animals of a black colour, the Mole 

 is sometimes found perfectly white, or cream-co- 

 loured, and sometimes spotted. In a memoir re- 

 lative to the Mole, published by M. de la Faille, it 

 appears that four varieties may be reckoned, viz. 

 the white Mole, the rufous or tawny Mole, the 

 greenish-yellow or citron-coloured Mole (found 



