430 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE MOLE. 

 (Talpa Europeus, Linn. La Taupe, Buff.) 



THIS animal, destined to seek its food and pro- 

 vide for its subsistence under the surface of the 

 earth, is wonderfully adapted, by the all-wise 

 Author of Nature, to its peculiar mode of living. 

 It enjoys the senses of hearing and smelling in a 

 very eminent degree: the former gives notice of 

 every approach of danger; whilst the latter enables 

 it to find its prey in the midst of darkness, and 

 compensates in a great measure for an almost total 

 want of sight. To an animal so circumstanced, a 

 larger degree of vision would be attended with 

 manifest inconveniences, as well as liable to con- 

 tinual injuries. We are told by anatomists, that, 

 for their better security, the eyes of the Mole are 

 furnished with muscles, by which it has the power 

 of withdrawing or exerting them at pleasure. Its 

 eyes are extremely small, and perfectly hid in 

 the fur. 



