ORDER RODENTIA. 163 



dered relatively to its size, and the whole animal takes a 

 cylindrical shape ; the feet are short, armed with round 

 trenchant nails, rather larger on the hind feet than on those 

 before. 



The whole animal is covered with a short soft fur, the 

 base of which is blackish ash-colour, and the extremity red- 

 dish, whence results a general tint of yellowish gray. They 

 are sometimes found spotted with white. 



The Greeks, as has been generally assumed, described 

 the Mole, a,<yna.\a%, as blind, an error which modern Zoo- 

 logists have piqued themselves in detecting ; M. Olivier, 

 however, has shown that this wonderful people, whose 

 mental faculties shot forth as it were a meteor through the 

 surrounding density, and anticipated the progress of human 

 art and intellect by many tedious ages, were not so idle in 

 their observations, or incautious in their conclusions. — 

 The aa<na\a% of the Greeks was, doubtless, the animal now 

 under consideration, which was indigenous in their coun- 

 try or around them, whereas the Mole was an exotic in 

 Greece. The Romans may, however, bear the blame of 

 having led us into this error by rendering the word aavaXa% 

 into talpa, and applying that word to the Mole of 

 Europe. 



The Spalax lives gregariously underground. They bore 

 excavations, which are not far from the surface, in search of 

 food, but dig a hole lower in the earth for personal retreat 

 and safety. They prefer cultivated grounds, and as they sub- 

 sist principally, if not entirely, on roots, they become serious 

 destroyers of the fruits of agriculture. Their movement are 

 precipitate, turning or running sideways, or even backward 

 with facility, when driven and in danger, and they bite with 

 great force and effect. When on the surface, they almost 

 always carry the head raised, apparently for the purpose 

 more effectually of hearing what is passing around them ; 

 thus relying on their most perfect faculty for a forewarning 



