MEMOIH OF PENNANT. 
9 
“ The breadth, strength, and shortness of the 
fore-feet, which are inclined sideways, answer the 
use as well as the form of hands, to scoop out the 
earth to form its habitation, or to pursue its prey. 
Had they been longer, the falling in of the earth 
would have prevented quick repetition of its strokes 
in working, or have impeded its course. The ob- 
lique position of the fore-feet has also this advantage, 
that it flings all the loose soil behind the animal. 
“ The form of the body is not less admirably 
contrived for its way of life : the fore part is thick, 
and very muscular, giving great strength to the ac- 
tion of the fore-feet, enabling it to dig its way with 
amazing force and rapidity, either to pursue its prey 
or elude the search of the most active enemy. 
The form of its hind parts, which are small, and ta- 
per, enables it to pass with great facility through the 
earth that the fore-feet had flung behind; for, had 
each part of the body been of equal thickness, its 
flight would have been impeded, and its security 
precarious. 
“ The smallness of the eyes (which gave occasion 
to the ancients to deny it the sense of sight) is to this 
animal a peculiar happiness ; a small degree of vi- 
sion is sufficient for an animal , ever destined to live 
under ground. Had these organs been larger, they 
would have been perpetually liable to injuries, by 
the earth falling into them ; but Nature, to prevent 
that inconvenience, hath not only made them very 
small, but also covered them very closely with fur 
