392 THE COMMON MOLE. 



The body is thick, and somewhat cylindrical ; and 

 their snout formed like that of the Hog, for root- 

 ing in the ground in search of worms and the larvas 

 of insects, their principal food. The fore-feet are 

 strong, and well calculated for digging those subter- 

 raneous retreats in which they entirely reside. They 

 Imve no external ears ; and the eyes are very small^ 

 and completely hidden in the fur. There are seven 

 species. 



In the upper jaw the Moles have six unequal 

 front-teeth, and in the lower jaw eight. There is 

 one canine-tooth on each side, in both jaws, the 

 upper ones of which are the largest ; with seven 

 grinders above, and six below *, 



THE COMMON MOLE '}~ 



Is SO well-known in our country, that any par- 

 ticular description of its figure is unnecessary. De- 

 stined by nature to seek a subsistence under the sur- 

 face of the ground, its fore-legs, which are very 

 short and excessively strong and broad, are situ- 

 ated outwards, and furnished with large claws, by 

 which it is enabled to work away the earth from 

 before it with the utmost ease. Its hind-feet, which 

 are much smaller, are calculated for tlu'owing back 

 the mould during its subterraneous progress. The 

 «nout is also slender, strong, and tendinous ; and 



* Linn. Gmel. i. 110. 

 t Sysonyms. — Talpa Euiopca. Ijinn. — Earopean Mole. Pcim.~^ 



Mole. Mold-war[), or Want. Uay. — Taupe, iiuj'on Shux^'s Gkti. 



I^ool. pi. 1 \7.—Bcu>. 2uad. 393. 



