290 
CARNIVORA. 
of which is turned outwards. This hand is sharp at 
its lower edge ; the toes are scarcely distinguishable, 
but the nails with which they are furnished are strong, 
flat, and cutting. Such is the instrument the mole 
employs for scratching away the earth. The sternum, 
like those of birds and bats, has a prominent ridge 
in the middle, which gives the pectoral muscles an 
additional power. The mole employs its lengthened 
head for piercing the ground, when it first descends 
into it. The muzzle is pointed, and armed at the 
' end with a bone peculiar to it; and the muscles 
that support it are extremely vigorous. The liga- 
ment that covers the neck becomes ossified. The 
hinder part of the animal is weak, and it moves on 
the surface of the earth with a difficulty proportioned 
to its activity when underneath it. The outer orifice 
of the ear is extremely small, and without any ala, 
or external wing ; but the tympanum is very large, 
and this accounts for that superior faculty of hearing, 
with which it is generally thought to be endowed. 
The eyes are exceedingly small, and so hidden under 
the fur, that the existence of them has been long 
denied. The construction of this organ, however, 
is now proved to be as complex and artificial, if we 
may employ the word, as in animals that have the 
eyes more apparent ; and though hidden, and pro- 
tected from external injury, they seem to be more 
than commonly effective, having a perception of 
light while under the surface of the earth, and even 
before the Sun is risen, as it is during the morning 
twilight that they are particularly active, at which 
