THE MOLE. 123 



dible, they divide into two bodies, commence hostili- 

 ties, and continue fighting until one of the party can 

 obtain a victory over the other, when the conquerors 

 always quit the field, which is often impregnated with 

 putrid exhalation from the myriads of dead bodies that 

 remain upon it. 



THE MOLE. 



Though the mole is so prevalent a quadruped in Eng- 

 land, in many other countries it is totally unknown, 

 and it is said to be a stranger even in our sister kinsr- 

 dom. In size, this little animal is between a mouse 

 and a rat, though in form very different : its eyes are 

 so small as to be scarcely discernible ; and, instead of 

 ears, it has two small holes : its nose is long, like that 

 of a hog ; and its neck is so extremely short, that the 

 head seems absolutely united to the back : the body is 

 thick and round ; and its legs so extremely short, that 

 they scarcely raise the animal from the ground : the 

 skin is black, smooth, and shining ; and it is singular 

 that it should not have been converted to some use. 



The formation of this animal is most admirably con- 

 trived for the singular life it is destined to lead ; the 

 smallness of the eyes (which induced the ancients to 

 think it blind,) is the greatest advantage it could pos- 

 sibly possess, as a more extensive sight would only have 

 served to shew the horrors of its prison, while Nature 

 had denied it the means of an escape : the form of the 

 body is equally well calculated for the constant exer- 

 tions it is obliged to make, for the fore part is thick 

 and very muscular, and gives great strength to the 

 action of the fore feet, which enables it to dig its way 

 with astonishing facility ; and what must otherwise be 

 laborious, it performs with ease : the sense of smelling 



1 



