CARNARIA. INSECTIVORA. 45 



account of its singular habits, as of the wisdom and 

 providential care displayed in its formation. It is 

 destined to live beneath the surface of the earth, in 

 which it forms long cylindrical burrows, diverging 

 from a central fortress of most elaborate construc- 

 tion. Through these it pursues its natural prey, the 

 earthworm, and subterraneous larvae of insects, and 

 they are consequently traversed many times a day as 

 a beaten road; they form, too, so many retreats in 

 case of surprise; and heavy, dull, and awkward as 

 it looks above ground, the Mole can rush through 

 these subterranean galleries with a speed equal to 

 that of a horse at full trot. As, however, the prey 

 of one neighbourhood is soon exhausted, the Mole 

 is compelled continually to extend his operations, or 

 seek a new district and form a new encampment. 

 This necessity imposes on the animal incessant toil, 

 and, to our notions, toil of the most sordid and 

 laborious character, so that we are tempted to pity 

 it, as one which God has condemned to the life of a 

 slave in the mines, and to which all sources of plea- 

 sure are denied. We should judge very rashly, how- 

 ever, were we to form this decision, and suppose that 

 because we should be uncomfortable and miserable 

 in such circumstances, the Mole is really unhappy. 

 Its whole construction admirably adapts it for its 

 mode of life ; its body is almost cylindrical, covered 

 with the softest fur, like velvet, which, lying in 

 any direction with equal smoothness, offers no re- 

 sistance in passing through the earth backward or 

 forward, and forms an almost impervious protection 



VOL. I. C 1] 



