198 ANIMALS OF THE 



the animal seems to lie flat on its belly. From 

 under its belly, as it rests in this position, the 

 four feet appear just as if they immediately grew 

 out of the body. Thus the animal appears to us 

 at first view as a mass of flesh covered with a fine 

 shining black skin, with a little head, and scarce 

 any legs, eyes, or tail. On a closer inspection, 

 however, two little black points may be discern- 

 ed, that are its eyes. The ancients, and some of 

 the moderns, were of opinion that the animal was 

 utterly blind ; but Derham, by the help of a 

 microscope, plainly discovered all the parts of 

 the eye that are known in other animals, such as 

 the pupil, the vitreous and crystalline humours. 

 The fore-legs appear very short and strong, and 

 furnished with five claws to each. These are 

 turned outwards and backwards, as the hands 

 of a man when swimming. The hind-legs are 

 longer and weaker than the fore, being only used 

 to assist its motions ; whereas, the others are con- 

 tinually employed in digging. The teeth are like 

 those of a shrew mouse, and there are five on 

 both sides of the upper jaw, which stand out ; 

 but those behind are divided into points. The 

 tongue is as large as the mouth will hold. 



Such is the extraordinary figure and formation 

 of this animal ; which if we compare with its 

 manner of living, we shall find a manifest atten- 

 tion in nature to adapt the one to the other.* As 

 it is allotted a subterraneous abode, the seeming 

 defects of its formation vanish, or rather are turn- 



* British Zoology. 



