r COSSACKS OF THE BLACK SEA. 
vomorski capital, Ekatekinedara. He can- CH I AP< 
tioned us to be upon our guard concerning 
the Tchernomorski, as the route would now be 
filled with deserters, and persons of every 
description from the army : and, above all 
things, he advised us to increase the number 
of our guard, lest treachery might be expe- 
rienced from the members of our escort ; “ from 
whom,” he said, “ as much might be apprehended 
as from the Circassians.” 
We observed several sorts of game in this Wild Fowl, 
day’s journey, particularly the wild turkey, the 
pheasant, some wild swans, and wild ducks; 
also a sort of fowl as large as a capon. 
In the steppes we caught a very uncommon 
species of mole. To us it was entirely new ; singular 
. , . , . Species of 
although perhaps it may have been the animal Mole, 
mentioned in the Journal des Savans Voyageurs, 
as known in Russia under the appellation of 
slepe z*. It seemed totally blind ; not having 
the smallest mark of any eye or optic nerve. 
Its head was broad, and quite flat, like that of 
(2) Gmelin considered it as an intermediate link between the mouse 
and the mole; for although, like the mole, it burrows, its food is 
confined entirely to substances which it finds upon the soil. See Jmrn- 
•lea Sav. Vvy. p. 151. 
