22 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



The radiated Tenrec, (Erinaceus Semispinosus.) 



Covered with hairs and prickles intermingled, 

 radiated with yellow and black. Its incisors to 

 the number of six, and the canines are slender 

 and crooked. It is scarcely the size of a mole. 



The Moles, (Talpa, Lin.) 



Are universally known by their subterraneous mode 

 of existence, and their conformation eminently adapt- 

 ed to this kind of life. 



An arm remarkably short, attached by a long 

 shoulder-blade, supported by a vigorous clavicle 

 and provided with enormous muscles, carries a 

 hand extremely large, the palm of which is always 

 turned upwards or behind. This hand is trenchant 

 at its inferior edge : the fingers are distinguished 

 with difficulty, but the nails which terminate them 

 are long, strong, broad, and trenchant. Such is 

 the instrument employed by the mole to tear the 

 earth and push it back. The sternum, like that of 

 birds and bats, has a ridge which gives to the pec- 

 toral muscles the magnitude necessary for their 

 functions. To pierce the earth and throw it up, the 

 mole uses its elongated and pointed head, the muz- 

 zle of which is armed at the end with a peculiar 

 small bone. The cervical muscles are exceedingly 

 vigorous, and the cervical ligament is even com- 

 pletely ossified. The hinder part of the mole is 

 feeble, and the motions of the animal on the earth 

 are as constrained and painful as they are rapid and 

 vigorous below its surface. The sense of hearing 



