90 MAMMALIA. 
there is no conch to the ear, and the eye is not percepti- 
ble. (1) 
Tapa, Lin. 
No one is ignorant of this curious animal, the Mole, whose form so 
perfectly 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 back- 
wards ; 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 instrument 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 pectoral 
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 muz- 
zle 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. In the genital 
organs there is this peculiarity—the bones of the pubis are not 
united, a circumstance which permits it to produce tolerably large 
young ones, notwithstanding the narrowness of the pelvis. The 
urethra of the female passes through the clitoris. She has six teats. 
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 na- 
ture of false molars ; back of them are four false molars above and 
three below, after which are three bristled molars. 
T. europea, L.; Buff. VIII, xiii. (The Common Mole.) 
Pointed muzzle; hair soft and black; individuals are found 
white, fawn coloured and piebald—a vexatious animal in culti- 
vated grounds. 
This species, according to Dr Harlan, is also found i in North 
Americas (2) % 
(1) The Red Mole of America, Seba, J, pl. xxxii, £1, (Talpa rubra, Lin.) is 
most probably a Chryso asiaticus, drawn from a dried specimen of that species, 
for then the hair appears purple ; the ¢ucan of Fernandez, App. XXIV, which is 
considered as synonymous with it, from its two Bas teeth in each jaw and its 
vegetable diet, appears to be a Spalax. 
Ee A mistake : the europza is not found here. Am. Ed. ~ q 
