106 ,. THE MOLE. 



sense of smelling seems necessary to enable it to catch 

 them ; and that its success is equal to its wants, and 

 that it feeds plentifully, is manifest by the excellent 

 condition in which the mole is at all seasons of the 

 year. It will penetrate banks of earth after worms 

 lodged in their interior, hunt for them in the richest 

 parts of the field, or on the edges of dung-heaps : in 

 all which pursuits some unknown faculties may direct 

 it; but no sense, that we are acquainted with, could 

 promote its objects so effectually as that of smell. My 

 talparius, a very 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 runs, and passages, to remove 

 all suspicious odors, 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 con- 

 ducted with great caution, it ceases from its operation, 

 and instantly retires. Should I be censured for needless 

 prolixity in detailing these sensations of a common 

 mole, and " telling of the mouldwarp and the ant," 

 I trust forgiveness may be granted me, as endeavoring 

 to remove all conceptions, should they exist, that any 

 thing, however vile and worthless it may seem to be, 

 could be created with powers or means inadequate to 

 supply its wants. Whoever 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 

 attention has been bestowed upon the creature, in pro- 

 viding for its necessities and comforts. This is singu- 

 larly, most impalpably, fine, yielding in every direction, 

 and offering no resistance to the touch. By this con- 

 struction the mole is in no degree impeded in its re- 

 treat from danger while retiring backwards, as it always 

 does upon suspicion of peril, not turning round, which 

 the size of its runs does not permit, its tail foremost, 

 until it arrives at some collateral gallery, when its flight 

 is head foremost, as with other creatures. If this fur 



