THE MOLE. 31 



back when bent, as if cut from solid India-rubber. But in a very 

 few hours it becomes stiff, unsightly, and shriveled, and loses all 

 its plump rotundity. Once lost, this is never restored. You may 

 immerse the Mole in water as long as you like, but as the shrivel- 

 ing is more from within than without, the moisture fails to pene- 

 trate the tissues, and to enable them to regain their pristine con- 

 tour. As to stuffed specimens, I never yet saw one in a museum 

 that gave much idea of the animal, and the snout in particular, is 

 always crumpled, black, and withered. 



In order to give greater spread and power to the fore paws, 

 there is an accessory bone shaped something like a sickle, project- 

 ing from the carpus, and it will be found that in this extraordina- 

 ry animal still exist certain remarkable peculiarities of structure, 

 which are seen in no other living form, but have been discovered 

 in the fossil skeletons of animals long extinct. 



I have given much space to the Mole on account of its many 

 claims to our notice. Had the creature been a rare and costly in- 

 habitant of the tropics, how deep would have been the interest 

 which it excited. How the scientific world would have crowded 

 to see the marvelous structure of a skeleton wherein are several 

 accessory bones, and which exhibit peculiarities hitherto found 

 only in fossil remains. How great would have been the admira- 

 tion evoked by its soft, velvet-like fur, its tiny eyes deeply hidden 

 in the fur, so as to be sheltered from the earth through which the 

 animal is continually making its way, the strange mixture of 

 strength and softness in the palms of its fore feet, and the elastic 

 springiness of its nose. 



But, because it is a native of our own country, and to be found 

 in every field, there are but few who care to examine a creature 

 so common, or who experience any feelings save those of con- 

 tempt or disgust, when they see a Mole making its way over the 

 ground in search of a soft spot in which to burrow, or pass by the 

 place where the mole-catcher has strung up his victims on the 

 trees as Louis XL was accustomed to suspend the bodies of those 

 who had committed the crime of trespassing on the royal domains. 

 For my own part, I am but too glad that such wonderful beings 

 are common, and am thankful for so many opportunities of study- 

 ing the works of Him who has made the lowly Mole as carefully 

 as the lordly man. 



There are many other burrowing animals allied to the mole ; 



