THE MOLE. 83 



the skins of moles were much used, for the linings of 

 winter garments, for the trimmings of several kinds of 

 dress, and even for the coverlets of beds. The down 

 or fur, which is as soft as the finest velvet, has been 

 employed in the manufacture of hats j yet for these 

 animals there is little or no sale. In some countries 

 the flesh of the mole is eaten. 



The aspect of this animal, on a hasty glance, is not 

 pleasing : its feet appear thick and clumsy, and its eyes 

 so very minute, that the ancients and some of the mo- 

 derns thought it was blind ; but when its structure is 

 compar^ \ with what it has to do, we are filled with 

 admiration. It lives, be it observed, almost wholly 

 beneath the surface of the ground, and feeds chiefly on 

 worms and insects. 



As therefore it is intended to burrow with great 

 facility, its fore feet are beautifully adapted to this 

 purpose : they appear like a pickaxe and shovel united ; 

 the long and powerful nails breaking the earth, while the 

 broad sole of the foot pushes away that which is 

 loose. All the force of the animal is required for these 

 efforts ; and hence the muscles of the fore feet are 

 uncommonly large, while the hinder ones, not having 

 such labour to perform, are smaller and much weaker. 



The mole is directed solely to its prey by smell and 



