THE MOLE. 149 



skilful capturer of these animals, is so sensible of 

 the power that moles are gifted with of readily 

 discriminating smells, that his constant practice is, 

 to draw the body of a captured animal through his 

 traps, and the adjoining rims, and passages, to 

 remove all suspicious odours, which might arise 

 from the touch of his fingers. Its feeling, too, 

 must be acute ; as, when casting up the earth, it is 

 sensible of the pressure of a very gentle foot ; and, 

 unless our approaches are conducted with great 

 caution, it ceases from its operation, and instantly 

 retires. Should I be censured for needless pro- 

 lixity in detailing these sensations of a common 

 mole, and " telling of the mouldwarp and the 

 ant, 1 ' I trust forgiveness may be granted me, as 

 endeavouring to remove all conceptions, should 

 they exist, that any thing, however vile and worth- 

 less it may seem to be, could be created with powers 

 or means inadequate to supply its wants. Who- 

 ever will examine the structure of the body of a 

 mole will, perhaps, find no creature more admirably 

 adapted for all the purposes of its life. The very 

 fur on the skin of this animal manifests what atten- 

 tion has been bestowed upon the creature, in pro- 

 viding for its necessities and comforts. This is 

 singularly, almost impalpably, fine, yielding in 

 every direction, and offering no resistance to the 

 touch. By this construction the mole is in no 

 degree impeded in its retreat from danger while 



