384 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



jurious in meadows, grafs lands, and cultivated grounds. 

 Its deftrudtion is confequently an object of importance to 

 farmers, gardeners, &c. 



The fkin of the Mole is extremely tough ; its fur (hort, 

 clofe-fet, and fofter than the fineft velvet, or perhaps the 

 fur of any other animal : It is ufually black, fometimes 

 fpotted with white, and fometimes (though rarely) white. 

 It is about fix inches in length, and its tail one inch. 



The Radiated MOLE 



is lefs than the common Mole, being not quite four 

 inches long : Its fur is very clofe, fhort, and fine : Its 

 nofe is very curioufly befet with radiated tendrils.— -It is 

 a native of North-America, feeds on roots, and forms 

 fubterraneous paflages in different direaions. 



There is a kind, found in Siberia, with a very fhort 

 nofe, and no tail. It is of a beautiful green and gold co- 

 lour, variable with the light. 



There are fome other varieties, that differ chiefly in 

 the colour of the hair; fuch as the Yellow Mole of 

 North-America, which is larger than the European. Its 

 hair is foft, and of a filky glofs. 



That which is found in Virginia refembles the com- 

 mon Mole. It is of a black colour, mixed with deep 

 purple. 



