148 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
and one of the most prolific, as many as 
twenty-one having been produced at birth. 
Of all living mammals it is the one most 
nearly allied to the Marsupials. 
Tue Mozes. 
The Common MOLE shows a most perfect 
adaptation to its underground mode of life. 
The general form of the animal is long, 
cylindrical, and pointed in front, whilst the 
legs are exceedingly short, the foot only in 
the fore limb projecting from the body. This 
foot is very broad and spade-like and im- 
mensely powerful, its use being to force a way 
—often with incredible speed—through the 
soft, yielding soil, and not to support the body, 
as in running or walking. The hind feet are 
weak, but resemble those of its allies the shrews, 
for instance. The eyes have become reduced 
to mere vestiges, very difficult tofind. The fur 
has become so altered in structure that it will lie 
equally smooth whether brushed towards head 
or tail,so that it should not be damaged when 
_ the animal travels backwards in its burrow. 
” Photo by W” Saville-Rent, F.Z.8- Va oe External ears have been dispensed with. 
COBEGO ASLEEP Worms form the staple diet of the mole, 
All four limbs are used in suspending itself when asleep, asin tre but besides underground insects of all kinds 
sloths. In this position the cobego closely resembles, and is mistaken byits are greedily devoured. This animal is one of 
enemies for, the fruits of one of the native trees, It is a nocturnat che vnbst Voracious feeders, falling ravenously 
upon its prey. It has been said with truth that 
so great is the ferocity displayed by the mole that if it could be magnified to the size of the lion it 
would be one of the most terrible of living creatures. That a constant supply of food is necessary 
to satiate its enormous appetite is shown 
by the fact that a mole will succumb to 
an abstinence of from ten to twelve hours. 
Moles fight among themselves furiously ; 
and if two are confined together, the 
weaker will be attacked and devoured. 
They take readily to the water, and in- 
stances of moles observed in the act of 
crossing streams are numerous. 
It is a curious fact, but the mole is 
unknown in Ireland; yet it ranges from 
England in the west through Asia to 
Japan. 
Careful observation seems to have 
shown that with the common mole 
males are more numerous than females. ; 
Young hedgehogs are born blind and naked. The spines on their first 
Whether this is true of other Species appearance are quite soft; they soon harden, and at the same time the power to 
remains to be seen. roll the body up into a ball is acquired 
animal 
Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.8.. [North Finchley 
THREE BABY HEDGEHOGS 
