118 TALPAD^. 



convex above, grooved beneath, taper at the extremities 

 (at which part they approximate to each other), and each 

 is furnished with a long acute nail, which is rendered 

 strong by having the terminal phalange (which enters 

 into and supports the nail) cleft longitudinally at its 

 point. Into this furrow in the bone a corresponding rib 

 of horn, on the inside of the nail, passes, thus making 

 the nail of more than usual thickness and strength. The 

 palms are directed outwards ; the hand is only suscep- 

 tible of being partially closed, which is effected by the 

 inclination of the terminal joint alone. When thus 

 bent, the hand is formed of two portions ; the one con- 

 sisting of the palm turned outwards, and the other formed 

 of the terminal joint of the fingers, tlie direction of 

 which is backwards, — a structure which at once explains 

 the manner in which the earth and the smaller fibres of 

 roots which are intermixed with it are, as it were, hoed 

 away, and thrown directly backwards behind the animal. 

 When at work, the tail is either carried erect or laid 

 along the back. 



But the Mole is not always employed in digging its 

 weary and laborious way through the solid earth : it runs 

 along its subterranean galleries and passages, and some- 

 times also on the surface of the ground, with considerable 

 rapidity. This requires a very difierent construction of 

 the feet from that which has been just described. It is, 

 in fact, principally by means of the hinder feet, which 

 are truly plantigrade, that the act of running or walking 

 is effected. These are either placed under the belly or at 

 the sides, as they press either against the inferior or 

 lateral walls of the passage, and thus act as in other 

 instances of plantigrade progression. The hands, how- 

 ever, are not without their use in this action, in which 

 they are employed in their bent position, the extremities 



