868 
'NATURAL HISTORY . 
DENTITION OF COMMON MOLE. 
( Thrice Natural Size.) 
fORE-LIMHS OF COMMON MOLE. 
across Central Asia to the confines of China, and according to some writers extends through Persia 
into India. It is subject to much variation, which may be due to differences of soil or climate. 
Thus Mr. Bell records Moles “ of a deep black colour, of a 
mouse-grey, dark olive-brown, pied, yellowish -white, and wholly 
or partially orange;” and mentions specimens from Berne “of 
the usual dark colour, but having a well-defined lozenge-shaped 
patch of orange on the breast” 
The Common Mole is the type of the restricted genus 
Tal/pa , the species of which are entirely confined to Europe and 
Asia. In these animals the elongated muzzle projects con- 
siderably beyond the opening of the mouth, and contains a pair 
of long tubular nostrils ; it is supported by cartilage, and 
further strengthened by a small bone at the extreme tip. The 
teeth with which the jaws are armed are of formidable character, 
and plainly indicate the predaceous habits of the animal. There are always three true molars on 
each side in each jaw, and these arc armed with several strong points united by ridges, but the 
number of the other teeth is slightly variable (the total 
number of teeth ranging between forty and forty-four), 
and even the determination of their precise nature is 
somewhat obscure. The dentition of the Common Mole 
(see figure) is now, however, generally regarded as 
follows : In the upper jaw, on each side, three incisors, 
one large canine provided witli two roots, and four 
premolars, of which the hindmost is of large size; in 
the lower jaw, on each side, four incisor -like teeth, the 
hindmost of which is probably a canine, and four pre- 
molars, the foremost of which is very like a canine. 
The variation in number is caused by the absence of some of the premolars and incisors of the lower jaw. 
The structure of the fore-limbs, and the bones supporting them, in the Mole and its allies, is not 
only to be regarded as their most distinctive character, but 
also as furnishing a most striking example of the adaptation 
of means to ends. The Moles are condemned to live almost 
constantly underground, and their very existence depends on 
the facility with which they can make their way through 
the earth. The fore-feet, by means of which they dig, are 
accordingly converted into strong, broad, shovel-like organs, 
armed with broad, flat claws. The five toes of which these 
feet are composed consist each of two short joints and a long 
one, the latter making nearly half the length of the organ ; 
and these long joints, which support the claws, are cleft at 
the tip and grooved underneath to receive an internal 
process of the nail, which serves to add to its strength and 
firmness* The bones of the wrist are short and firmly 
packed together, and from the scaphoid bone springs a long 
curved falciform bone (f in figure), which runs from the 
wrist to the first toe, which it helps materially to stiffen and 
support. The arm which supports this powerful hand is 
also of peculiar construction. In the forearm (a) the radius 
and ulna are distinct, but the acromion (or elbow) process of 
the latter is very long, and widened at the extremity, giving 
great power to the action of the limb. The humerus (b) is quite 
different from anything to be met with elsewhere in the Mammalia, being a short and very stout bone, 
rendered most irregular in its outline by the development of great crests and processes. It not only 
STERNUM OF COMMON MOLE. ( Enlarged 
