Sl6 COMMON MOLE. 
ous life. The body is thick and cylindric : the 
snout slender, but very strong and tendinous : the 
head not distinguished from the body by any ap- 
pearance of neck; the legs so extremely short as 
scarce to project perceptibly from the body; the 
fore feet situated obliquely outwards, excessively 
strong and broad^ and furnished with very large 
and stout claws^ so as to give the animal the 
power of working under the surface with the ut- 
most ease and readiness : the hind feet are small 
in proportion to the fore feet, and are calculated 
for throwing back with ease the mould from behind 
the creature^ during its subterraneous progress: 
the tail is short and small: the skin is much 
thicker and tougher in proportion than in other 
quadrupeds, and the fur with which it is covered 
equally surpasses that of other animals in fineness 
and softness. The muscular strength of the Mole 
is very great, and it is enabled to force itself 
into the ground with an extraordinary degree of 
celerity. The general length of the Mole is about 
five inches and three quarters, exclusive of the 
tail, which measures one inch. This animal is 
supposed to possess the power of hearing in an 
exquisite degree ; and if at any time it emerges 
from its subterraneous retreat, instantly disap- 
pears on the approach of any danger. When 
first taken, either by digging it out or otherwise, 
it utters a shrill scream, and prepares for defence 
by exerting the strength of its claws and teeth. 
A<xording to the Count de Buffon, so lively and 
re^'iprocal an attachment subsists between the male 
