T H E R A T K IN D. lo^ 



they are found dead by thoufands, and taint the air for mUes, pro- 

 ducing malignant diforders. They feem alfo to infed the plants they 

 have gnawed, for cattle ofcen die that afterward feed where they palTed. 

 To the Swedes and Norvyegians, who live by hufbandry, fuch an in- 

 vafion is terrible ; but the Laplanders are happy when vifited by ai? 

 army of lemings -, they feaft on their flefh, though horrid food even to 

 dogs and cats, and always expert plenty of game the year following, 

 among thpfe fields which the lemings have deftroyed. 



THE MOLE. 



THE mole is formed to live wholly under the earth, that no place 

 (hould be left untenanted. Is fat, fleek, and gloffy, and, though 

 denied many advantages of other animals, enjoys fome of which they are 

 but fcantily poflefled. , 



Lcfs than a rat and bigger than a moufe, with a coat of fine, 

 Ihort, glofly, black hair j its nofe, long and pointed; its eyes fcarce 

 poffible to be difcerned. Inftead of ears, has only holes. Its neck 

 Ihort; body thick and round ^ fmall fliort tail; legs alfo very fhort; 

 as it reds on its belly, the feet appear growing out of its body. The 

 ancients, and fome moderns, thought the animal utterly blind ; but 

 Dcrham, by a microfcope, difcovered all the parts of an eye. The 

 fore-legs are very fhort and ftrong, furnilhed with five claws each, 

 turned outwards and backwards, the hind-less are lonsjer and weaker 

 than the fore ; the teeth are like thofe of a fhrew moufe, five on each ^ 

 fide the upper jaw, which ftand out; thofe behind, divided into points. 

 The tongue is as large as the m.outh will hold. 



By the breadth, tirength, and ihortnefs of the fore-feet, which in- 

 cline outwards, throws back the earth ivith eafe ; had they been longer, 

 the falling in of the earth would have prevented the quick repetition of 

 their ftrokes, and they would have required a larger feole for their exer- 

 tion. The fore-part of the body being thick anjl^^ mufcular, gives 

 great ftrength to .the adtionof the fore-feet, enabling it to dig its way ■ 

 with amazing force and rapidity. 



Little vifion is fufficient for a creature who lives in darknefs ; had the 

 organ been larger, it would have been perpetually liable to injury by 



T 2 falling 



