. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 344 THE RADIATED MOLE. Even in a stuffed specimen, or in an uncolored engraving, the aspect of the Radiated Mole is a most grotesque and singular one ; but its quaint uniqueness is much more striking when the animal is alive and in full health. The most remarkable point in this animal is the muzzle, which is produced into a long, slender proboscis, round the extremity of wlrich are arranged a number of soft, fleshy rays, of a bright rose-color, radiating like the petals of a daisy, or th
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 344 THE RADIATED MOLE. Even in a stuffed specimen, or in an uncolored engraving, the aspect of the Radiated Mole is a most grotesque and singular one ; but its quaint uniqueness is much more striking when the animal is alive and in full health. The most remarkable point in this animal is the muzzle, which is produced into a long, slender proboscis, round the extremity of wlrich are arranged a number of soft, fleshy rays, of a bright rose-color, radiating like the petals of a daisy, or the tentacles of a sea-anemone. These curious rays, or caruncles, as they are more scientifically termed, can be spread or closed at pleasure, and present a strange spectacle when in movement. Their probable object is that they may serve as a delicate organ of touch, to aid the animal in procuring the worms and insects on which it feeds. The openings of the nostrils are situated in the centre of the radiated disc. The number of the caruncles is about twenty. On account of the proportionately length- ened tail, the animal is sometimes called the Long-tailed Mole ; for the tail is two inches and a half in length, while the head and body only measure four inches and a half. Another name by which it is known is the Condylure, or "knotty tail,"' an epithet which has been applied to it because, when a specimen is dried, the skin of the tail contracts so firmly over the vertebra? that the separate bones exhibit their form through the skin, and give to the tail a knotted aspect. The color of the fur is much like that of the common Mole, being a vel- vety blackish-gray on the upper portions of the body, and paler on the under parts. The eyes are extremely small, and there is no ex- ternal indication of ears. It is an inhabitant of Canada and the United States. The Mole (Tulpa) is peculiar to European countries, while the American animal, so called (), is equally characte
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
