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a tea-plate, and several other articles; and in- 
variably with the same result. So that the next 
time a man runs his head against a post, we will 
try to forget the old saying, as blind as a mole.” 
In pursuit of his prey, we had another proof of 
our friend’s eyesight. A few worms were dropped 
quietly into the box, out of the mole’s sight. 
They speedily crept into the mould; but, in their 
perambulations again, saw light at intervals, not 
unfrequently a few inches before Mr. Mole’s nose. 
Woe betide the unhappy wight who did so! He 
was carefully watched until an opportunity 
occurred of getting him endwise into the sharp- 
toothed jaws of his destroyer; when he was 
quietly munched up, just as a child would munch 
a stick of barley-sugar. This lust fact was one 
of the most interesting which came under our 
observation. Why, with his strong jaws and 
lancet teeth, he would not seize a worm by the 
side (as I have seen a water-newt do scores of 
times), and make his own of it, instead of allowing 
one after another to scamper off from between his 
very jaws,—I cannot understand ; but that such 
is the case, I am well-assured. Our verdict on 
the eyes of the mole amounts to this,—that the 
mole does see, but that his range of vision is very 
limited. 
Having thus declared that our friend has the 
power of sight, it would be still more satisfactory 
to find, if possible, his eyes. For this purpose a 
party of young naturalists sat on his body; while 
one, with all the sage demonstrativeness of a 
Cuvier, proceeded with the work of dissection. 
As our observations on dissection of the head 
entirely agree with those of H. K. Creed, Hsq., 
of Christ’s College, Cambridge, and published by 
him in the ‘ Naturalist,” February, 1852, it will, 
suffice to give his account. ‘‘ Having lately,” he 
says, ‘‘ been carefully examining the eyes of the 
common mole, I find that the little black tubercules 
which are seen, on turning aside the hair, on each 
side of the head, have each an optic nerve com- 
municating with the brain.” This is sufficient 
proof that the reviled little animal in question 
enjoys the blessings of sight; for surely an All- 
wise Creator would never form an animal with 
all the apparatus for vision, and yet deny it the 
use of it. 
Passing now from the eyes to the general struc- 
ture of the mole, the first thing that strikes us on 
removing his coat is the extraordinary develop- 
ment of the muscles on the forepart of his body, 
in comparison with the hinder quarter. The 
arms, or fore-legs, are short, stiff-looking append- 
ages, and covered with what would seem to be a 
superabundance of flesh. ‘This, however, is not 
the case; large as the quantity is, it is firm, 
useful flesh, giving healthy strength to every aec- 
tion of the body. The chest alsois protected by a 
thick and broad expansion of muscles. But, lack- 
a-day for the hind legs, they are as poor a8 a rat’s. 
Certain it is, that were the creature divided about 
the middle into two pieces, it would be difficult to 
get over the impression that the one part belonged 
to a larder resident, and the other to a poor half- 
starved outcast. The aim in this unequal distri- 
bution of flesh is very evident. From the nature 
of the mole’s habits, it requites prodigious strength 
in its fore-quarters, that it may overcome the many 
obstacles to its subterranean explorations. 




Nor is the difference in the skeleton less marked. 
The bones of the hind leg exhibit no material 
difference from the corresponding bones in higher 
animals, being elongated and cylindrical in shape, 
as in the legs of a hare vr rabbit. In the fore- 
legs, however, we have a structure which almost 
defies description. Let us begin with the scapula, 
or shoulder-blade, which, in man and most other 
mammals, assumes a somewhat triangular form ; 
having two flat faces, one of which is ornamented 
with an upright ridge. This bone is familiar to 
every one who has picked the fiddle-bone of a 
rabbit. In the mole, the scapula loses its ex- 
panded form; and appears as a sprismatic club, 
with three sharp edges, and furrows between 
them. Collar-bones attach the shoulder-joint to 
the breast-bone, and are present only in a few of 
the lower animals,—as monkeys, kangaroos, bats, 
and two or three others. In shape, it may be 
said generally to resemble Hogarth’s line of 
beauty ; being a long and beautifully curved bone. 
Next let us look at the humerus. Instead of a 
fine long cylindrical bone, a shortened, flattened, 
and sinuated piece of osseous matter is presented ; 
with curves and points, and flats, and depressions, 
sufficient to puzzle a mathematician. ‘The aim of 
this wonderful formation of bone is the same as that 
of the large development of muscle; namely, to 
give sufficient strength to enable the burrowing 
creature to overcome almost any difficulties, and 
resist impending dangers, which would inevitably 
destroy an animal of another organisation. 
It is impossible, in contemplating the anatomy 
of such a creature, not to feel that itis as perfect 
in its kind as the gigantic elephant, or the well- 
proportioned horse; and that it is as forcibly dis- 
plays the power, wisdom, and goodness of the 
great and benevolent Maker of us all. 
Subjects on natural history, treated thus 
popularly, and written in so amiable a spirit, 
cannot but excite attention. How refreshing 
it would be to meet with many more such 
specimens; but alas! they are rare indeed! 
. CHILDHOOD. 

Our youth! our childhood ! that spring of springs! 
"Tis surely one of the blessedest things 
That nature ever invented! 
When the rich are wealthy beyond their wealth, 
And the poor are rich in spirits and health, 
And all with their lots contented ! 
There’s little Phelim, he sings like a thrush, 
In the selfsame pair of patchwork plush, 
With the selfsame empty pockets, 
That tempted his daddy so often to cut 
His throat, or jump in the water-butt— 
But what cares Phelim ? an empty nut 
Would sooner bring tears to their sockets. 
Give him a collar without a skirt, 
That’s the Irish linen for shirt, 
And a slice of bread, with a taste of dirt, 
That’s Poverty’s Irish butter. 
And what does he lack to make him blest ? 
Some oyster-shells, or a sparrow’s nest, 
A candle-end and a gutter. 
T. Hoop. 


