THE MOLE . 
S69 
articulates with the shoulder-blade, but has a separate surface for the reception of the extremity ofc the 
collar-bone (c), which is a short bone resembling the vertebra of a fish. The shoulder-blade (cl) is long 
and narrow, but stout and triangular in its form. 
The sternum, or breast-bone, upon which all these parts rest, is scarcely less singular in its 
structure (see figure). The body of the sternum consists of four short pieces, which receive the ends 
of the ribs. Behind these is a slender ensiform process '(e), and in front of them a manubrium (m), 
or presternum, of peculiar form, and quite as long as the whole middle part of the sternum. This 
part is widened in part of its length, receives a single pair of ribs in its hinder division, has a strong 
keel for the attachment of the pectoral muscles along its lower surface, and is much thickened at its 
front extremity, to the sides of which the collar-bones (c) are articulated. By this arrangement the 
whole fore-limb is thrown forward close to the head, and placed in the most favourable position for 
facilitating the burrowing operations of the animal, which are effected by bringing forward the fore- 
feet to the level of the nose, and then separating them and pushing backward, with an action that 
might almost be styled slamming through the ground. The hind feet, which are much smaller than 
those just described, are perfectly plantigrade in their structure. They also contain five toes, armed 
with small sharp claws, and are used only for the purpose of progression. 
When we consider the structure of the Mole, and its perfect adaptation to its mode of life, we 
may agree with Mr. Bell in the belief that although superficial observers may regard it as a miserable 
creature, such a notion is an absolute mistake. It is true that the Mole, like so many of our own 
race, is condemned to almost perpetual exertion ; blit in the case of human beings we find that 
physical exertion at any rate is of itself so little of an absolute evil that many of our favourite 
amusements involve no small amount of it, and moral writers are rather fond of dwelling on the 
pleasure of earning one’s dinner before eating it. How this is no more than our friend the Mole has 
to do, so that he can hardly be looked upon as an object either of pity or contempt ; and in fact, in 
his own quiet way, he probably manages to enjoy his life as much as his neighbours. In going 
about in his subterranean galleries the Mole is constantly engaged in looking out for suitable 
food, a very large supply of which is necessary for his comfortable existence. M. Geofiroy St. 
Hilaire says that the appetite of hunger in the Mole is a sort of frenzy, the animal when in view of 
its prey becoming violently agitated, and throwing itself on its victim as if maddened with rage. 
Vegetable substances constitute no part of its diet, although it is said sometimes to gnaw the roots of 
plants in search of the insects and larvae which feed upon them. Its favourite food consists of earth- 
worms, in pursuit of which it sometimes comes to the surface so eagerly as to throw itself out of its 
burrow. It is in search of these animals, and especially of the larvae of various insects which feed 
upon the roots of grasses and other plants, that the Mole makes its most superficial galleries. 
The Mole appears not to be particular in its tastes in the matter of food, and will readily make a 
meal upon animals much larger and higher in the scale of organisation than those above mentioned, 
should they happen to come in its way. Mice, small birds, Lizards, and Frogs, if placed within its 
reach, it will seize and hold with the ferocity and tenacity of a thoroughbred Bull-dog, and even 
weaker individuals of its own species are killed and devoured. According to M* Geofiroy, in 
attacking birds it makes use of a good deal of stratagem to get. unobserved within reach of its prey, 
and then by a sudden and violent attack seizes the bird by the belly, tears it open with its powerful 
claws, and thrusts its muzzle among the unfortunate creature’s entrails, with every appearance of 
intense enjoyment. M. Flourens gives a similar account of its proceedings. Professor Lcnz also 
describes the voracity of the Mole, and its determined mode of destroying larger animals than one 
would suppose it capable of managing. A Mole in his possession destroyed and devoured, in the 
course of twenty-four hours, a large Slow worm, a large Snail, two Chrysalids, and a Snake about thirty- 
two inches long. Of the reptiles he left nothing but the skin and the bones. 
It is probably by the sense of smell chiefly that the Mole is guided in its search for prey. Brehm 
found that when he had got a Mole buried in some earth in a box, and placed a few fragments of 
chopped meat on the surface, in a few minutes the earth rose, the muzzle of the Mole appeared, and 
the meat was devoured. The sense of sight is perhaps in general of little use to the animal ; but 
there arc times in its life when to see is an advantage ; and time-honoured as the belief may be, there 
is no doubt that the supposition that the Mole is blind is merely a popular error. Tt has indeed long 
