217 
anat(my of the mole-cricket. 
room for powerful muscles, intended to move the last part ; 
which is the immediate instrument employed by the animal 
in burrowing. 
It might I think be asserted, without the fear of contra- 
diction, that throughout the whole range of animated na- 
ture, there is not a' stronger instance of what may be called 
intentional structure, than is afforded by that part of the 
mole-cricket which I am now to describe.* 
The natural and constant position of this member is worth 
noticing ; the palm, as it may be called, facing outwards, 
and the claws ranging not in a horizontal but a vertical line, 
so that none of them but the lowermost, and not even .this 
necessarily, touches the surface on which the animal is walk- 
ing. Accordingly the insect does not make much use of its 
fore-legs in walking ; and, if irritated, it advances towards 
you with these legs elevated, in a menacing attitude as it 
were ; not unlike the corresponding attitude of the insect, 
called the mantis. The form of the hand is that of a tri- 
angle ; the base of which is formed by the four claws,- while 
the apex is situated at,the joint connecting this with .the pre- 
ceding part ; by which form and disposition, fwo important 
objects are gained ; for the joint is thus capable of a much 
greater extent of motion than it could have possessed, had 
the articulating surface been more than a mere point ; and 
at the same time, the greater extent of the base enables it to 
act with more powerful and more rapid effect than could 
have been otherwise produced. The four claws, which form 
this base, constitute the proper burrowing instrument ; and 
their shape and structure are beautifully adapted to the pur- 
♦ Vide fig. 5. 
