158 MOLE, Class t 



course of life,appears more evident in the mole 

 than in any other animal. 



A subterraneous abode being allotted to it, 

 the seeming defects of several of its parts vanish ; 

 which, instead of appearing maimed, or un- 

 finished, exhibit a most striking proof of the 

 fitness of their contrivance. The breadth, 

 strength, and shortness of the fore-feet, which 

 are inclined sideways, answer the use as well 

 as form of hands, to scoop out the earth, to 

 form its habitation, or to pursue its prey. Had 

 they been longer, the falling in of the earth 

 would have prevented the quick repetition of its 

 strokes in working, or have impeded its course ; 

 the oblique position of the fore-feet has also this 

 advantajTe, that it flings all the loose soil behind 

 the animal. 



The form of the body is not less admirably 

 contrived for its way of life ; the fore part is 

 thick and very muscular, giving great strength 

 to tlie action of the fore-feet, enabling it to dig 

 its way with amazing force and rapidity, either 

 to pursue its prey, or elude the search of the 

 most active enemy. The form of its hind parts, 

 which are small and taper, enables it to pass 

 with great facility through the earth, that the 

 fore-feet had flung behind ; for had each part 

 of the body been of equal thickness, its flight 



