66 MAMMALIA. 



for excavating and piercing the earth; the others regularly decrease in size. 

 The hind feet have five of an ordinary size. They are subterraneous ani- 

 mals, whose mode of life is similar to that of Moles. To enable them to 

 dig the better, their fore-arm is supported by a third bone placed under 

 the cubitus. 



C. asiaticus. (The Golden Mole.) A little smaller than the European 

 Mole; no apparent tail; is the only known quadruped that presents any 

 appearance of those splendid metallic tints which brighten and adorn so 

 many Birds, Fishes and Insects. Its fur is a green, changing to a copper 

 or bronze; there is no conch to the ear, and the eye is not perceptible. 



TALPA, Lin. 



No one is ignorant of this curious animal, the Mole, whose form so per- 

 fectly qualifies it for a subterraneous mode of life. A very short arm 

 attached to a long scapula, supported by a powerful clavicle and furnished 

 with enormous muscles, sustains an extremely large hand, the palm of 

 which is always directed either outwards or backwards; the lower edge of 

 this hand is trenchant, the fingers are scarcely perceptible, but the nails in 

 which they terminate are long, flat, strong and sharp. Such is the instru- 

 ment employed by the Mole to tear the earth and throw it behind it. Its 

 sternum, like that of Birds and Bats, has a process which gives to the pec- 

 toral muscles the size that is required for their functions. To pierce and 

 raise up the earth, it makes use of its long pointed head, whose muzzle is 

 armed at its extremity with a peculiar little bone, and whose muscles are 

 extremely powerful. There is even an additional bone in the cervical 

 ligament. It has but little power behind, and moves as slowly above 

 ground as it advances rapidly under it. Its sense of hearing is very acute, 

 and the tympanum very large, although there is no external ear; its eyes 

 are so small and so hidden by the hair, that for a long time their existence 

 was positively denied. The jaws are weak, and the food consists of 

 Worms, Insects, and some soft roots. There are six incisors above and 

 eight below. The canini have two roots, which causes them to partake of 

 the nature of false molars; back of them are four false molars above and 

 three, below, after which are three bristled molars. 



T. europaea, L.; Buff. (The Common Mole.) Pointed muzzle, hair 

 soft and black; individuals are found white, fawn-coloured and piebald 

 a vexatious animal in cultivated grounds. 



CONDYLURA, Illig. 



In the animals belonging to this genus, the two kinds of dentition peculiar 

 to the Insectivora seem to be combined. In the upper jaw are two large 

 triangular incisors, two extremely small and slender ones, and on each side 

 a strong canine. In the lower one are four incisors slanting forwards, and 

 a pointed but small canine. The superior false molars are triangular and 

 separated, the inferior trenchant and denticulated. 

 In their feet and the whole of their exterior they resemble the Mole, but 



