THE MOLE. 
106 
sense of smelling seems necessary to enable it to catch 
them ; and that its success is equal to its wants, and 
that it feeds plentifully, is manifest by the excellent 
condition in which the mole is at all seasons of the 
year. It will penetrate banks of earth after worms 
lodged in their interior, hunt for them in the richest 
parts of the field, or on the edges of dung-heaps : in 
all which pursuits some unknown faculties may direct 
it ; but no sense, that we are acquainted with, could 
promote its objects so effectually as that of smell. My 
talparius, a very skilful capturer of these animals, is so 
sensible of the power that moles are gifted with of 
readily discriminating smells, that his constant practice 
is, to draw the body of a captured animal through his 
traps, and the adjoining runs, and passages, to remove 
all suspicious odors, which might arise from the touch 
of his fingers. Its feeling, too, must be acute ; as, when 
casting up the earth, it is sensible of the pressure of a 
very gentle foot; and, unless our approaches are con- 
ducted with great caution, it ceases from its operation, 
and instantly retires. Should I be censured for needless 
prolixity in detailing these sensations of a common 
mole, and “ telling of the mouldwarp and the ant,” 
I trust forgiveness may be granted me, as endeavoring 
to remove all conceptions, should they exist, that any 
thing, however vile and worthless it may seem to be, 
could be created with powers or means inadequate to 
supply its wants. Whoever will examine the structure 
of the body of a mole will, perhaps, find no creature 
more admirably adapted for all the purposes of its life. 
The very fur on the skin of this animal manifests what 
attention has been bestowed upon the creature, in pro- 
viding for its necessities and comforts. This is singu- 
larly, most impalpably, fine, yielding in every direction, 
and offering no resistance to the touch. By this con- 
struction the mole is in no degree impeded in its re- 
treat from danger while retiring backwards, as it always 
does upon suspicion of peril, not turning round, which 
the size of its runs does not permit, its tail foremost, 
until it arrives at some collateral gallery, when its flight 
is head foremost, as with other creatures. If this fur 
