CHAP. IV. MOTIONS OP THE MOLE. 109 



and frequently, in its descent, appearing to throw itself 

 down precipices which appear almost perpendicular. 

 The smallest horizontal ledge or abutment of the rocks 

 is sufficient to afford it a footing; and in this man- 

 ner it wiU often foil the most daring hunter. The 

 Capra Ibex, however, is even said to exceed the activity 

 of the chamois ; as it is affirmed to mount similar pre- 

 cipices by leaps, or successive bounds, of nearly five 

 feet, thus gaining the summit of a rock of fifteen feet 

 by three of these airy springs, during which it scarcely 

 appears to touch the spot on which it descends, merely, 

 as it should seem, to be repelled, and again thrown off 

 into the air. " We have seen it," observes major 

 Hamilton Smith, " leaping down a precipice, sliding 

 first the fore legs down the steep, while, with the 

 spurious hoofs of the hind feet, it held the edge of the 

 rock with firmness, till the centre of gravity was 

 lowered as far as possible ; then, bounding forward, by 

 a jerk of the body during the descent, turn the croup 

 under, and alight on the hind feet first, with such 

 apparent ease, that the fore feet dropped close to the 

 hinder, and all expression of effort vanished." * > 



(130.) The common mole is an instance of great 

 peculiarity both of organisation and motion, as well. -as 

 of that beautiful adaptation of power to necessity*, so 

 observable throughout nature. As it is destined to be 

 the constant inhabitant of a subterraneous abode, a 

 variety of motions were unnecessary ; a peculiarity, 

 however, was called for by its mode of life, and this 

 has been accordingly given : its principal occupation, 

 burrowing, is provided for by a pair of short and 

 extremely broad fore legs, much resembling, in general 

 shape, the human hand, the palms of which are turned 

 outwards ; and by this singular formation the mole is 

 enabled to dig away the earth before it with the 

 greatest facility ; while its hind feet, which are much 

 smaller, are employed in throwing back the previously 

 excavated earth. The beaver is another instance of a 



* Griffith's Cuv. vol. iv. p. 283. 



