. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. i-LIMHS OF COMMON across Central Asia to the confines of China, and according to some writers extends through Persia iato India. It ia subject to much variation, which may be due to diflerences of soil or climate. Thus Mr. Bell records Moles " of a deep black colour, of a mouse-grey, dark olive-brown, pied, yellowish-white, and wholly or partially orange;" and mentions specimens fi'om Benie "of the usual dark colour, but having a well-defined lozenge-shaped patch of orange on the ; The Common Mole is the type of
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. i-LIMHS OF COMMON across Central Asia to the confines of China, and according to some writers extends through Persia iato India. It ia subject to much variation, which may be due to diflerences of soil or climate. Thus Mr. Bell records Moles " of a deep black colour, of a mouse-grey, dark olive-brown, pied, yellowish-white, and wholly or partially orange;" and mentions specimens fi'om Benie "of the usual dark colour, but having a well-defined lozenge-shaped patch of orange on the ; The Common Mole is the type of the restricted genus Talpa, the species of which are entirely confined to Europe and Asia. In these animals the elongated muzzle projects con- siderably beyond the opening of the mouth, and contains a pair of long tubular nostrils; it is supported by cartilage, and further strengthened by a small bone at the extreme tij). The teeth with which the jaws are ai'med are of formidable characters and plainly indicate the predaceous habits of the animal. There are always three true molars on each side in each jaw, and these are armed with se\-eral strong points united by ridges, but the number of the other teeth is slightly variable (the total number of teeth ranging between forty and fortj-four), and even the determination of their precise nature is somewhat obscure. The dentition of the Common Mole (see figure) is now, however, generally regarded as follows : In the upper jaw, on each side, three incisors, one large canine provided with two roots, and four premolars, of which the hindmost is of large size; in the lower jaw, on each side, four incisor-like teeth, the hindmost of which is probably a canine, and four j>re- molars, the foremost of which is very like a canine. The variation in number is caused by the absence of some of the premolars and incisors of the lower jaw. The structure; of the fore-liuibs, and the bones supporting them, in the Mole and its allies, is not only
Size: 1320px × 1893px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectanimals
