Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Croydon.
COBEGO ASLEEP.
All four limbs are used in suspending itself when asleep, as in the sloths. In this position the cobego closely resembles, and is mistaken by its enemies for, the fruits of one of the native trees. It is a nocturnal animal.
Photo by L. Melland, F.Z.S.] [North Finchley.
THREE BABY HEDGEHOGS.
Young hedgehogs are born blind and naked. The spines on their first appearance are quite soft; they soon harden, and at the same time the power to roll the body up into a ball is acquired.
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 immensely 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.