THE COMMON MOLE. 



Generic Characters. 

 Long nofe; upper jaw much longer than the lower. 

 No ears. 



Fore feet very broad, with fcarcely any apparent legs before; hind 

 feet fmall. 



Synonims. 



Talpa, Gefner Quad. Q3 1« Klein Quad. Oo. , 

 Mullvad, Surk. Faun, fuec. No. 23. Br. Z00L i. 108. 

 Kret, Rzaczinjki Polon. 230. 



European Mole, Pennant Hift. Quad. vol. ii. p. 229. 

 La Taupe, de Buffon, viii. 81. tab. xii. 

 , Talpa, the Mole, Mold-warp, or Want, Rati. Syn. Quad. 230. 

 Talpa Europ^eus, Linn. Syjl. 73. 



FEW fubje&s of natural hiltory are, in reality, more worthy our 

 confideration than the animal delineated in our plate; for, whilft the birds 

 are permitted to tranfport themfelves at pleafure through the regions of the 

 air, the fillies to fport fecurely in the bofom of the ocean, and the majority 

 of quadrupeds to enjoy the umbrageous wood, the verdant hill, or the 

 enamelled meadow, the Mole is deftined to feek its food beneath the furface 

 of the earth, and to fix its habitation in darknefs and obfcurity. Its ftru&ure 

 and organization are, however, admirably adapted to its mode of living; 

 particularly the conftruclion of its fore feet, which greatly facilitates its 

 fubterraneous labours; and the fmall degree of its vifion, which rnuft certainly 

 conduce to its happinefs and convenience. 



The ufual length of this creature's body is near fix inches; the fore part 

 is thick and mufcular, but the hind part tapers gradually towards the tail, 



