amining the eyes of the Common Mole, (Talpa 

 vulgaris), and the parts connected with them, I 

 find, (contrary to Mr. Smee's assertion in his 

 "Instinct and Reason," that the " little black tu- 

 bercles," -which are seen on turning aside the 

 hair on each side of the head, have each an optic 

 nerve, communicating with the brain. 



On dissecting the head of a Mole, a few days 

 since, I found two nerves connecting the eye 

 with the brain; one of these is the optic nerve, 

 and the other the second branch of the fifth 

 pair of nerves. 



If a Mole's skull is examined with attention, 

 three small holes will be found, some way further 

 back than the eye; through the largest of these 

 pass the optic nerve, and the second branch of 

 the fifth pair of nerves. The two others are very 

 minute, but through them pass the olfactory and 

 maxillary nerves, and those connected with the 

 ear which is very large. There are no sockets 

 in the skull for the eye, but it is situated in a 

 mass of muscle. 



I kept one alive for some days in the spring 

 of 1848. When I was near enough for him to 

 see me, he was uneasy, and tried to bury him- 

 self in the mould I had put in his box ; and when 

 I dropped a worm in, he immediately made for 

 it, and devoured it rapidly. 



There are also some more curious "facts 1 ' 

 about the " cuckoo " in this number ; which 

 fully corroborate all our recent remarks 

 about that singular bird. Of these anon. 



A History of British Birds. By the Rev. 

 F. 0. Morris, B.A. Part XX. 



A Natural History of the Nests and Eggs of 

 British Birds. By the same Author. 

 Part I. 



The " History of British Birds " progresses 

 well. The illustrations are as admirably 

 drawn as they are colored. They represent 

 three several descriptions of the Martin ; and 

 the Pied Wag-tail. The letter-press de- 

 scriptions exhibit the usual care and minute 

 correctness of the author, and stamp a value 

 on the Work. 



The "Nests and Eggs of British Birds," is 

 a new serial altogether. It has commenced 

 right well, and promises to be a truly valu- 

 able as well as inexpensive monthly publica- 

 tion. All our readers should take it in. 

 The eggs are admirably figured and colored. 



As this is likely to be an important work, 

 we copy the Rev. Author's " Address to the 

 public," in full. It promises much : — 



It is impossible for any one undertaking a pub- 

 lication of the present nature, to have been more 

 singularly favored than I have been, in a way 

 which at once removes one of the greatest dif- 

 ficulties attendant on it. William Eichard Fisher, 

 Esq,, of Yarmouth, has, in the most handsome 

 and obliging manner, placed at my service, for 

 this work, his original drawings of the Eggs of 

 British Birds; executed by him some years since, 

 in the most perfect, elaborate, and scrupulously 



careful manner that can be imagined. I am per- 

 fectly confident that there is not in existence in 

 the country, anything of the kind approaching 

 to this amateur work in excellence; and if my 

 attempt to convey to the following pages some- 

 thing of the genuineness which he has imparted 

 to his drawings, fails, it most certainly ivill not be 

 from defect of any kind whatever in the materials 

 at my hand. 



The repeated and very earnest requests that 

 have been made to me, to publish a work on the 

 " Nests and Eggs of British Birds," is responded 

 to under the most favorable circumstances that 

 could exist; and I have less hesitation in making 

 the attempt, from feeling the weight of the argu- 

 ment which he has used—that the "History of 

 British Birds " would be incomplete without it. 

 '•Ab ovo usque ad mala.' 



The Country House ; No. 2. — The Piggery. 

 12mo. C. Knight. 



We gave an outline in the first number of 

 our London Journal, of this very useful 

 series of popular Treatises ; and mentioned 

 that the second portion of them would relate 

 to " The Piggery." It is now before us. 



Like the "Poultry Yard," it is compiled with 

 extreme care and with a perfect knowledge 

 of the subjects treated of. Hence its great 

 practical value to all who keep pigs for the 

 sake of profit, or for the economical benefit 

 of their own family consumption. 



The hog is an animal of which we know 

 comparatively little, because he does not 

 often cross our path. When AVE claim an 

 acquaintance with him, it is when lie has 

 gone through sundry transmigrations. We 

 meet him at dinner, in the form of a splendid 

 ham ; again, at breakfast, in the delicious 

 " relish " of some thin streaky slices of bacon, 

 crisped, curled, and " tempting " to the 

 palate. In divers other shapes, too, does he 

 greet our vision, and agreeably "provoke" 

 our olfactory organs ; and in all of them he 

 is a welcome visitor. Who of us is there, 

 ignorant of the savor of a " Bath chap ?•" 



It would be mere affectation, after this 

 avowal, w r ere we to treat him slightingly, or 

 speak of him as a disgusting object. By no 

 means is he such ; and we strongly commend 

 this most interesting little volume for an en- 

 lightened description of his history, pedigree, 

 progress, and present state. It is admirably 

 illustrated with engravings of the various 

 tribes, and full of judicious advice for their 

 proper treatment, and cure when ill. 



As it is not unlikely we may return to 

 this book at a future period, we will now 

 only make a passing extract, showing the 

 fertility of swine. The author says : — 



Having trenched upon the subject, we may ad- 

 vert to the principles upon which breeding of swine 

 should be conducted. Two great objects arc in 

 view, fertility and early fattening. With respect 

 to fertility, we rather advocate moderation than 

 excess, both on account of the strength and 



