156 MAMMALIAN DESCENT. [Lect. VI. 



the skull, under the ear ; the uppermost piece, or 

 pharyngo-hyal, being set free for auditory purposes, 

 and becoming the stirrup-bone. 



Supposing the theory of the slow secular transforma- 

 tion of the old general types, into new special types, 

 to be true, then the existing Mole, in its perfection 

 of adaptive structure, has been as long in coming to its 

 present perfection as the larger and nobler prone, or 

 erect, types that trample the earth over its head. In its 

 own line, doing its own dark work, it is as complete 

 a creature as the clear-eyed, super-terrestrial types ; 

 as a Mole it is consummate — a complete and perfect 

 example of a subterranean tyrant. In its turn, this , 

 cowardly creature tyrannises over other earth-borers, 

 and very cunning is he ; there is but a step from his 

 stall to his larder ; all around him are hosts of juicy 

 grubs and worms, " and thereout sucks he no small 

 advantage." Concerning tastes there is no disputing ; 

 one naturalist is fond of Whales ; another of Moles, 

 Shrews, and Mice. All these amusing types must have 

 their suppl}^ of food ; the great mother, Nature, loves all, 

 and shakes out of her lap plenty for every kind. When 

 we reflect that our own country possesses about 1200 

 species of insects,^ and that some of the species are 

 prolific beyond all calculation, then we come to under- 

 stand how the hio'lier Insectivorous tribes — Birds or small 

 Mammals — find so plentiful a table in the wilderness. 



^ So Mr Stainton informs me. 



