44 DIVISION I. VEUTEBn.VL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



I. TALPID.i:— Moles. 



Tlic.*e aniniiils are notcil fur tlieir sul)tcrniiican life, ami the rcinarkaljle 

 iiiaiiiier in wliieli they are fitted for it. They are cli;2:ger.s and miners, and 

 eiinscijuently are provided with short arms, attaeiied to long and largo 

 shonlder-ljlades, snjiported hy strong clavieles, strengthened by powerful 

 muscles, and terminating in large hands, the palms of whieh are invarialily 

 turned either outwards or Iiackwards. Tiie lower edges of the hands are 

 ti-enehant, and the fingers almost impereeptihlo, yet they arc armed with 

 lung, flat, and jharp elaws. In progressing tliroiigli the earth the fore paws 

 are thrust forward as if in the act of swimming, and the loosened dirt is 

 pushed Ijaekwartls out of the animal's way. The head is pushed forwaid, 

 and the long, llexihle nose assists in opening a path. The musejes of 

 the neek are also extremely powerful. The hinder parts of the body arc 

 weak, and the progi'es.^i<iii of the animal above ground is as slow and awk- 

 ward as it is rapid and easy beneath the surface. 



Tlie Mole is endowed will) an acute sense of hearing, and although the 

 eyes are so small and liidden as to i)e nearly invisible, it has been ascer- 

 tained that it is by no means deficient -in sight. — Tliis i'amily is ranged 

 under four genera. 



CiENUs Tali'A — ^loles Projicr. This group is resolved into a few spe- 

 cies, of which the Common Mole (TdljHi l^tiroptrii) is the most widcdy 

 dill'used, and the best known. The fierceness of its temper, the voracity 

 of its api)etite, the wonderful talents it exhibits, as a miner and engineer, 

 in constructing its underground fortresses, ditches, and highways, combine 

 to give this anini.d an extraordinary character. It has a pointed snout; its 

 fur is velvety-black ; its tail is short and hairy, and the voice small, but 

 shrill. In length it measures nearly six inches. 



It is said the males are more numerous than the females, and, on this 

 account, the former often engage in desperate encounters. The number of 

 young produced at a time varies from three to seven. The nest is jdaeed 

 beneath a large molehill, and is lornied of grass, leaves, and other vege- 

 table substances. A Frenchman, of the name of Le Court, devoted his 

 whole life to a study of the domestic haijits of this animal, and to him we 

 are indebtt'd ibr the following curious particulars : — ■ 



The ]\I()Le as ax Exgixeeii axu ]\Ii\ei;. — The food of the ]Molc 

 consists chiefly of earth-worms, in search of which it burrows its way in tlie 

 soil, extending its subterranean excursions in jiroportion as its prey dimin- 

 ishes in number. To facilitate this piu'snit, it excavates a series of runs 

 or galleries, along which it can walk \vithout inconvenience, and l'r(.im 



