. Mammals of other lands;. Mammals. 148 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD. and one of the most prolific, as many as twenty-one having been produced at birth. Of all living mammals it is the one most nearly aUied to the Marsupials. The Moles. The Common Mole shows a most perfect adaptation to its underground mode of life. The general form of the animal is long, cylindrical, and pointed in front, whilst the legs are exceedingly short, the foot only in the fore limb projecting from the body. This foot is very broad and spade-like and im- mensely powerful, its use being to force a way —often with in
. Mammals of other lands;. Mammals. 148 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD. and one of the most prolific, as many as twenty-one having been produced at birth. Of all living mammals it is the one most nearly aUied to the Marsupials. The Moles. The Common Mole shows a most perfect adaptation to its underground mode of life. The general form of the animal is long, cylindrical, and pointed in front, whilst the legs are exceedingly short, the foot only in the fore limb projecting from the body. This foot is very broad and spade-like and im- mensely powerful, its use being to force a way —often with incredible speed—through the soft, yielding soil, and not to support the body, as in running or walking. The hind feet are weak, but resemble those of its allies the shrews, for instance. The eyes have become reduced to mere vestiges, very difficult to find. The fur has become so altered in structure that it will lie equally smooth whether brushed towards head or tail, so that it should not be damaged when the animal travels backwards in its burrow. External ears have been dispensed with. Worms form the staple diet of the mole, but besides underground insects of all kinds are greedily devoured. This animal is one of the most voracious feeders, falling ravenously upon its prey. It has been said with truth that so great is the ferocity displayed by the mole that if it could be magnified to the size of the lion it would be one of the most terrible of living creatures. That a constant supply of food is necessary to satiate its enormous appetite is shown by the fact that a mole will succumb to an abstinence of from ten to twelve hours. Moles fight among themselves furiously ; and if two are confined together, the weaker will be attacked and devoured. They take readily to the water, and in- stances of moles observed in the act of crossing streams are numerous. It is a curious fact, but the mole is unknown in Ireland ; yet it ranges from England in the west through Asia to Japan. Ca
Size: 1376px × 1816px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorco, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectmammals
