I have here given a figure of a mole found at the Cape of Good Hope, a stuffed skin of which was sent me by M. Sonnerat. This mole pretty much resembles the common species in the form of its body, in the eyes, in the ears, and in the tail; but it differs in the head, which is larger, and in the muzzle, which resembles that of a Guiney-pig. The fore-feet are likewise different: The hair is not black, but dark brown, with a little yellow at the extremity of each hair. The tail is covered with large hairs of a yellowish white colour; and, in general, the hair of this mole is longer than that of the European. From all these descriptions we may conclude, that it is a particular species, and that, though allied to the common mole, it cannot be regarded as a simple variety. [315]

In Pennsylvania, says M. Kalm, there is a species of mole, which lives principally on roots. This animal digs, in the fields, small winding subterraneous alleys. In proportion to its size, it has more strength and rigidity in its paws than most other quadrupeds, In digging the earth, it uses its feet like oars. M. Kalm put one of them into his handkerchief; and he found, that, in less than a minute, it had made a number of small holes, as if the cloth had been pierced with a bodkin. It was very mischievous; and, whenever it found any objects in its way, it immediately perforated them with its teeth. I presented to it, continues M. Kalm, my ink-piece; but was soon repelled by the hardness of the metal, and never afterwards inclined to bite any thing that was held out to it. This animal raises not the earth, like the moles of Europe, but only makes small paths under the ground.*

These characters are not sufficient to give us a proper knowledge of the animal, nor enable us to decide whether it belongs to the mole-tribe. [316]

*Voyage de Kalm, tom. 2. p.333.