392 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



The MOLE.* 



THIS animal, deftined to feek its food and pro- 

 vide for its fubfiftence under the furface of the 

 earth, is wonderfully adapted, by the all-wife Author of 

 nature, to its peculiar mode of living. It enjoys the 

 fenfes of hearing and finelling in a very eminent degree : 

 The former gives notice of every approach of danger ; 

 whilft the latter enables it to find its prey in the midft of 

 darknefs, and compenfates in a great meafure for an 

 almoft total want of fight. To an animal fo circum- 

 ftanced, a larger degree of vifion would be attended with 

 manifeil inconveniences, as well as liable to continual in- 

 juries. We are told by anatomifts, that, for their better 

 fecurity, the eyes of the Mole are furnifhed with mufcles, 



* The ingenious Mr Burn, hatter, of Newcaftle upon Tyne, has lately 

 difcovered a method whereby the exquilitely fine fur of this noxious, and hi- 

 therto defpifed animal, is likely to become of the greateft importance and 

 utility to the public : By incorporating it with other materials, it forms a 

 ftamen of peculiar llrength and beauty, for the purpofe of making hats, 

 fuperior to any that has hitherto been made ufe of in that valuable branch 

 ©f manufacture, and for which he has obtained a Royal Patent. 



