THE MOLE. 835

excite feelings of dread and loathing. As the peacock was
sacred to Juno, queen of heaven, so the bat was dedicated
to Proserpine, the empress of hel].*

Orpen INSECTIVORA.

Tatpa.—The Mole.

These animals are admirably qualified for the subterra-
neous life they are destined to lead. They are five or six
inches in length, the body thick, the head much prolonged,
the nose projecting greatly, and formed for conveying food
to the mouth; they have no external ears, though the sense
of hearing is very acute; and the small eyes are so nearly
concealed by the fur, as to have given rise to the belief that
they were entirely wanting; the legs are very short and the
fore feet strong, broad, and furnished with large stout claws,
thus enabling the animal to work through the ground with
great rapidity. The food of moles consists chiefly of worms
and the larvee of insects, but in summer they appear on the
surface in search of other prey, such as birds, mice, frogs,
and snails; in these nocturnal excursions, they are often, in

* British Cyclopedia: art, Bar.