138 TALPAD^. 



Scotland, nor in the islands of Orkney and Zetland. It 

 has never been seen in any part of Ireland, a circum- 

 stance which has been attempted to be accounted for, by 

 some, by the nature of the climate and the soil. This, 

 however, is not an equivalent cause ; as it is found in 

 every kind of soil throughout England and the Continent 

 of Europe. The more probable solution is, that the 

 Mole was not originally a native of Ireland, like some 

 other of our common animals, as for instance, the Snake ; 

 and, like that reptile, is destitute of the means of migra- 

 tion.* 



The ancients in general appear to have had but 

 vague notions respecting the habits and structure of 

 animals : from this charge the great father of natural 

 science is in an astonishing degree exempt. It has, 

 however, been adduced as an instance of erroneous and 

 superficial observation, that Aristotle held the Mole to 

 be absolutely blind. I have abeady suggested that this 

 probably arose from his having principally examined the 

 species now called Talpa cmca, in which the eyelids are 

 closed, whilst in the common species they are open. 

 There is likewise a distinction in the character of the 

 incisive teeth, which in the Common Mole are all equal, 

 whilst in the other the middle ones are longer than the 

 others ; and De Vaux states that there are also some 

 slight differences in their habits and architecture. Both 

 these species are exceedingly well figured by Prince 

 Charles Lucian Buonaparte, in his beautiful Iconografia 

 della Fauna Italica. 



* The experiment of introducing a few Moles into some favourite locality 

 in Ireland, and noting their increase, would determine how far the nature of 

 the soil is concerned in their ahsence. We venture to predict, that if such 

 an introduction ever takes place, that they will be found to thrive as well as 

 in England. 



