202 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



East Friesland. It is longer than the common Mole. Its 

 skin is marbled on the back, and under the belly, with white 

 and black spots, in which may yet be distinguished an in- 

 termixture of gray hairs, as fine as silk. The muzzle is 

 long, and furnished with long and stiff hairs. 



Authors have mentioned some other varieties, with which 

 we do not think it necessary to trouble our readers. 



Very handsome furs, and light and warm coverlets, have 

 been manufactured from the skins of Moles, as well as very 

 fine and handsome hats. Scandal will have it that, at one 

 period, French ladies, of a certain age, were wont to use 

 the same material for false eye-brows; if so, they could 

 only have succeeded in deceiving those who put forth the 

 imposition. In ancient medicine, many virtues have been 

 attributed to the different parts of the Mole, both in the 

 cure of disease, and the recovery of beauty, which had suf- 

 fered from the relentless ravages of time. These sorts of 

 medicaments have been long abandoned, and to enumerate 

 them would be but loss of time. In Thrace, according to 

 the report of M. Sestini, it is still believed that the skin of 

 the Mole possesses the capacity of curing a defluxion of the 

 eyes. 



Of all animals, the Mole is, probably, the most advanta- 

 geously gifted by nature. With the exception of sight, 

 which is the weakest of all its senses, because it is the least 

 exercised, its other organs possess very great sensibility. 

 Its hearing is remarkably fine, its touch delicate, and its 

 sense of smelling most exquisite. Its skin is fine, and it 

 always maintains its " embonpoint." Its fore limbs are 

 terminated by hands rather than feet. Its strength is very 

 considerable in proportion to the volume of its body ; and 

 it possesses an address, in addition to its vigour, that 

 accurately directs the employment of all its faculties. 



The Mole exhibits an admirable degree of industry in 

 constructing the habitation to which it retreats. It passes 



