200 ANIMALS OF THE 



Anatomists mention, beside these advantages, 

 another that contributes to their security ; name- 

 ly, a certain muscle, by which the animal can 

 draw back the eye whenever it is necessary, or in 

 danger. 



As the eye is thus perfectly fitted to the ani- 

 mal's situation, so also are the senses of hearing 

 and smelling. The first gives it notice of the 

 most distant appearance of danger ; the other di- 

 rects it, in the midst of darkness, to its food. 

 The wants of a subterraneous animal can be but 

 few ; and these are sufficient to supply them : to 

 eat, and to produce its kind, are the \vhole em- 

 ployment of such a life ; and for both these pur- 

 poses it is wonderfully adapted by nature.* 



Thus admirably is this animal fitted for a life 

 of darkness and solitude ; with no appetites but 

 what it can easily indulge, with no enemies but 

 what it can easily evade or conquer. As soon as 

 it has once buried itself in the earth, it seldom 

 stirs out, unless forced by violent rains in sum- 

 mer, or when, in pursuit of its prey, it happens 

 to come too near the surface, and thus gets into 

 the open air, which may be considered as its un- 

 natural element. In general it chuses the looser 

 softer grounds, beneath which it can travel with 



* Testes babct maximos, parastatas amplissimas, novum corpus seminale 

 ab his diversum ac separatum. Penem etiam facile omnium, ni fallor, ani- 

 malium longissimum, ex quibus colligere est maximam praj reliquis omnibus 

 animalibus voluptatem in coitu, hoc abjectum et vile animalculum percipere, 

 ut habeant quod ipsi invideant qui in hoc supremas vitae suae delicias collo- 

 cant : Ray's Synops. Quadrup. p. 239. Huic opinion! asscntitur D. Buf- 

 foh, attamcn non mihi apparet magnitudiuem pavtium takm voluptatem 

 augcre. Maribus, enim sahcissimis contrarium obtinet. 



