A description of the nature of four-footed beasts with their figures en[graven in brass] / written in Latin by Dr. John Johnston ; translated into English by J.P.

CHAPTER XVIII. Of the Mole.

THe name Talpa,* 1.1 the Latines have put on it, either from Thaptoo, to digge, or Tophlos, blind; or Thalpae, nourishing it self under ground;* 1.2 or from the Chaldee Talaf,* 1.3 to cleave the earth. The Greeks call it Spalax, from Span, scraping. Some Siphncus, from hollowing the earth; and Blacta. It is not unlike a Mouse; the body broad, and flat, feet like a Bears; short-thighed, toad-headed;* 1.4 having on the forefeet five toes, on the hinder foure, the fifth crooks so inward, it is hardly seene. The palme of the forefeet is flat like a hand, the neck very short, or almost none, hair short and thick, and glistring black; the teeth, as the Dogges, and Wesels, are all on the sides, none afore, and sticking up; the lungs, tied with many severall strings to the heart; the fore-thighs consist of two bones, set into the shoulder-bone, whence he is stronger to digge: his hinder-thighs have a bone, that a litle below the knee-parts in two: All the bowells are as in other beasts; Onely 1. they have no colon,* 1.5 no blind-gut. 2. The stones hid,* 1.6 on the bladder-side,* 1.7 and black. 3. The reins joyned to the next hollow vein. 4. The gall great for such a body with faire Choli∣dochs. 5. The porter of the stomack, is as tied by a thwart line. 6. The water-con∣veying-vessells, propt with uriteres. 7. The Larinx, as in a Land tortoyse, for it is a mute beast. 8. The hammer, and anvill within the inner-eare are strangely small; the bone in the

midst like a pumice-stone full of pores. 9. Three passages are in the nether jaw. 10. The eyes stand in the right place all black,* 1.8 covered with a skin, small as a fleawort-seed; I could perceive no optick sinews, nor know I whether they can see, or no, not onely, be∣cause their eyes have a film over them, but they want many things, conducing to sight. They seeme rather natures sportive essays, to shew what shee can doe, then eyes. In a Mole found 1617, were observed a fleshy filme, strangely set into the skinne; the brain great, distinct, and faire; the ears lying inward, hide the bones extreame small, the bowels small as strings. In Thessaly they with heaving, have overturned a whole Town.* 1.9 In Lebaica are none;* 1.10 if you bring any thither, they heave not, perhaps because it is a hard soile. They feed most on worms, and therefore haunt dunghills; and worms failing, they eat earth. They have been seen also to make at roots of hearbs,* 1.11 and fruits, and toads. They are commonly bred in ground, rotted by rain, long lying. Albert saith, they cannot live an houre above ground, but he is mistaken. They have but dim sight, but are very quick of hearing. They are of use in Phisick; a Tooth pluckt out of a live one,* 1.12 is thought to ease the tooth-ach. Pills of them with hony, wear away swellings. The head cut, and stamped with earth of his heaving, made up into balls, and kept in a tinne box, is given against all neck-griefs, the blood brings hair, and helps felons: the fat keeps hair from growing, as also batfat.* 1.13 The ashes cures fistulaes. Some lay a Moles-heart,* 1.14 and Saladine, under a sick mans pillow, to know if hee shall dy, or no, conceiving that he shall recover, if he sing, or cry out; if he weep, he shall not last long.

The water wherein a Mole hath been, and left hair,* 1.15 restores hair. Of the skins are caps made.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ambros•••• de digit. vivip. l. 2. c. 36.
• * 1.2

  Name.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Describ••
• * 1.4

  Scal.
• * 1.5

  Severin.
• * 1.6

  Zoot.
• * 1.7

  Democ. p. 317.
• * 1.8

  Pliny.
• * 1.9

  Place.
• * 1.10

  Plin. l. 8. c. 2••.
• * 1.11

  Food.
• * 1.12

  Use.
• * 1.13

  M••rinel.
• * 1.14

  Mizald••s.
• * 1.15

  Ag••icola.