510 MAMMALIA. 



an artifice wliicli our elegantes have not yet thought of, and we 

 think it our duty to bring it to their notice. 



Moles inhabit the temperate regions of the old and new 

 continents, though they are most numerous in Europe. Three 

 species are known : the Common Mole, of which there are several 

 varieties ; the Blind Mole, so named in consequence of its eyes 

 being reduced to little openings which are no more visible than 

 the point of a pin, — it inhabits Italy ; lastly, the Woogura Mole, 

 a native of Japan. 



Genus Adromycfes. — The Astromyctes, North American animals, 

 greatly resemble the Moles ; but the fore parts of their bodies are 

 much more developed in comparison with the hind parts ; the 

 tail is also longer and bushier, and their snout is terminated by 

 membranous appendages which have the figure of a star. Their 

 habits are the same as those of the Mole. The only species known 

 is the Star-nosed or Radiated Mole. 



Gen Its Scalops. — It is particularly by the dental system that the 

 Scalops are distinguished from the Moles. They have only thirty- 

 six teeth, twenty of which are in the upper jaw, and sixteen 

 in the lower. Their tail is very short and completely naked. 

 They are fond of living near water, and are constantly found in 

 marshy places or near streams. In this respect they differ much 

 from the Moles, but their habits otherwise are much the same. 



Genus Chri/sochloris. — The animals of this genus are the repre- 

 sentatives of Moles in South Africa. Their aspect is very singular. 

 They have only the rudiment of a tail, and their snout, abruptly 

 truncated, is far from being so much developed as that of the 

 Mole. On first casting our eyes upon one of these creatures 

 nothing is to be seen but an unshapen mass, the nature or habits 

 of which could not be imagined ; but on careful examination the 

 limbs are seen, which scarcely reach beyond the body, and are 

 terminated in front by three toes, armed with enormous curved 

 and sharp claws, and behind by five toes, as in the other genera 

 of this family. The toes of the fore-feet have the peculiar shovel- 

 like disposition noticed in the Moles. 



The pelage of the Chrysochlores oifers that iridescent play of 

 colours which is only found in birds and fishes, and to this cir- 

 cumstance they owe the name of Golden Moles, which was given 

 them last century. 



