NATURAL HISTORY. 
87 
was totally blind; but Dr. Deiham, by the 
means of a microfcope, difcovered all the 
parts of the eye known in other animals. 
A very fmall degree of villon being fuffi- 
cient for a creature dcflined to a fubterrane- 
ous abode, Providence has -vV^ilely formed 
them in this manner : for had they been 
larger, they would have been continually li- 
able to injury, by the earth falling into 
them ; to prevent which inconvenience, they 
are likewife covered with fur. Another 
wonderful contrivance, to be obferved in 
nature’s works, is, that this animal is fur- 
niflicd with a certain mufcle, by w'hich it can 
exert or draw back the eye, as necelTity re- 
quires. 
As a I'ccompence fer this detect in the op- 
tic nerves, the mole enjoys two other fenfes 
in the higheft perfedlion ; via. hearing and 
fmelling ; the firft of which gives it the moft 
early notice of danger, while the latter, al- 
though in tire midft of darknefs directs it to 
its food. The wants of a fubterraneous a- 
nimal being but few, lb thole of the mole 
are eafily luppHed ; worms and infedls, in- 
habiting their regions, being their only 
food. 
Although the mole is generally black, yet 
it is fometimes fpotted, and has alfo been 
found quite white. The fur is Ihort, and 
dole fet, and fmoother than tlie fineft vel- 
vet. The length, including the tail, which 
is about an inch, is feven inches. It breeds 
in 
