340 EARTH TRESPASSERS. 



Earth-worm of the land, and the Lug- worm of the sea, 

 may be accepted as typical examples. 



The animal which at once suggests itself to the 

 mind is that which not only shares the domain of 

 earth with the worms, but feeds upon them, and there- 

 fore must be able to follow them wherever they go, 

 namely, the common Mole. This animal has long 

 been such a favourite of mine, and its life has always 

 appeared to me to be so exceedingly wonderful, that I 

 have already written much about it, and do not wish to 

 repeat myself. I will therefore restrict myself entirely 

 to the modifications of structure which enable it to 

 trespass upon the domain of earth. 



It is evident that the first requisite for an earth 

 burrower is the possession of effective digging tools, 

 and these are found in the two fore legs of the Mole. 

 The hind legs are quite insignificant and feeble, all 

 their strength seeming to have been lent to the front 

 pair of limbs. In them, the bones are short, strong, 

 and there is a supplementary bone at the shoulder, 

 which affords attachment to the muscles used in 

 digging, as well as giving a powerful leverage. 



Then the shape and general structure of the fore 

 paws, armed with their formidable nails, is worthy of 

 notice, as producing a digging tool which is almost, if 

 not quite, unrivalled. The muscular strength pos- 

 sessed by the Mole can hardly be estimated until the 

 creature be taken in the hand. 



This, however, is a dangerous experiment if the 

 animal is to be kept alive; for it uses all its great 

 power in its efforts to escape ; the strong muscles 

 being plainly felt as they work under the skin, and 



