.

are very noisome to young birds, and try to pull the unfledged Toucans out of their nests. But the mother bird, when she sees a monkey approaching, "so settles herself in her nest as to put her bill out at the hole, and gives the monkeys such a welcome therewith, that they presently pack away, and glad they escape so."

According to some writers, the Toucan makes the burrow for itself, using the huge beak as the tool wherewith it excavates its work. I very much doubt, however, whether the bird has the power of doing so, and think that, at the most, it only adapts and slightly alters the interior of the hollow in order to suit its own purposes.

The Toucan is always a tree-loving bird, and does not wander from the forests. It is a native of South America, and may generally be seen perched on the topmost boughs of the lofty moratree, far beyond the reach of the shot-gun, and requiring a single bullet, or the Indian's tiny poisoned arrow, to bring it from its lofty elevation. It flies only by jerks, takes no long aerial journeys, and its body. always seems overweighted by the enormous beak, which makes the head bow downward as the bird passes through the air.

PERHAPS the SWIFT (Cypselus apus) may take rank among the semi-burrowing birds.

It always lays its long white eggs and makes its simple nest in holes, and in some cases is able to form the tunnel in which it breeds. When it takes up its habitation far from human abodes, it contents itself with crevices in rocks, hollow trees, and similar localities. But, when it resides near the habitations of man, it attaches itself to him like the swallow and the martin. Slates and tiles have, however, driven the Swift away from many a spot wherein it was once plentiful, for it loves to penetrate into thatch and therein to rear its hungry brood.

I can well remember the gradual ejection of the Swifts from a country town on account of architectural improvements. Formerly, when all the less pretending houses were covered with thatch, the Swifts had their nests in every roof, and the "Jacky Screamers," as the peasants called the birds, used to hunt for flies in the streets, and boldly carry their prey to their young. The houses were so low that a man could touch the eaves merely by standing on a chair, and the habits of the birds were easily watch

ed. Their nests were frequently robbed, but the birds seemed to care little for their bereavement, and when the eggs were removed, would quietly lay another couple or so. I seldom found more than three eggs in a nest.

By watching the Swift enter the tunnel leading to its nest, the object of the oddly-formed feet is clearly ascertained. The legs are very short but strongly made, and the toes are all furnished with strong curved claws, and directed forward, so that the bird is unable to clasp a branch with its feet. This structure enables it to scramble through its tunnel with great rapidity, and it is most interesting to see the Swift wheel round in the air with a piercing cry, answered by a little complacent chirrup from its mate within the nest, then dart into the hole as if shot from a bow, closing its wings as it enters the tunnel, and then scramble away with a quick and certain gait that never fails to excite admiration.

row.

The nest itself is a very simple affair. Any soft material seems to suit the Swift, which brings hay, flakes of wool, bits of rag, feathers, paper, string, and many other substances into the burWith these materials it makes a tolerably compact nest, which is generally to be found at a distance of eighteen inches or two feet from the entrance of the burrow. The holes which have been made by rats are mostly used for this purpose, but if the bird can not find a hollow already existing, it is quite capable of forming one for itself, and by dint of pulling out the straws in some weak spot, and pushing aside those which it can not extract, it soon makes a burrow large enough for its purpose.

CHAPTER III.

BURROWING REPTILES.

The REPTILES and their Hibernation.-The LAND TORTOISE and its Winter Dwelling. The CROCODILES.-Snakes.-The YELLOW SNAKE of Jamaica.-Its general Habits.--Its burrowing powers discovered.-Presumed Method of removing the Earth.

THE REPTILES are, as a body, not remarkable for the burrows which they make.

Many of them bore their way into the ground, pass a few months in a state of torpidity, and then push their way out again. But the hole which they make in the earth is scarcely to be called a home, inasmuch as the inhabitant merely enters it as a convenient place wherein it may become torpid, and abandons it as soon as the ordinary functions of the system are restored by the warmth of the succeeding year.

The common Land Tortoise, for example (Testudo Græca), is in the habit of slowly digging a burrow with almost painful deliberation, and then concealing itself below the surface of the earth during the cold months of winter. Many Tortoises which have lived in this country have been noticed to perform this act, and I have lately seen a very good example of a burrow which had been sunk amid some strawberry plants, and from which the inmate had just emerged.

Many other reptiles follow a similar course of action. The crocodiles, for example, burrow themselves deeply in the mud, and have more than once caused much alarm by awakening out of their hibernation, and protruding their unwelcome snouts from the mud close to the feet of the astonished spectator.

Snakes are accustomed, in like manner, to conceal themselves during the period of their hibernation, resorting to hollow trees, holes in the ground, and similar localities. Laborers, while engaged in digging, especially in breaking down banks, frequently unearth a goodly assemblage of snakes, all coiled up in an unsuspected cavity, which they must have entered through the deserted burrow of a mouse or some other little animal. But that a snake should be able to form its own burrow is a feature so remarkable in herpetology, that a single accredited example must not be passed without notice.

In his very interesting work on the natural history of Jamaica, Mr. Gosse gives a curious account of a burrow made by the YELLOW SNAKE (Chilabothrus inornatus). This snake is very plentiful in Jamaica, and is perfectly harmless to man, being destitute of poison-fangs, and not reaching a size which would render it formidable to human beings. Its average length, when fullgrown, is eight feet. So far, indeed, from being obnoxious to man, it may rank among his best friends, as being a determined foe to rats, feeding largely upon them, and even entering houses in search of its prey. Like the weasel, indeed, of our own country, which feeds mostly on mice and other destructive animals, but occasionally makes a raid upon the fowl-house, the Yellow Snake enters the farm-yard, and, instead of eating rats as it ought to do, proceeds to the hen-roosts, and robs them. No less than seven eggs have been found inside a single Yellow Snake, and not a single egg was broken.

There is now (1863) a good specimen in the Reptile-room of the Zoological Gardens of London.

One of these snakes was seen to crawl out of a hole in the side of a yam-hill-i. e. a bank of mould prepared for the purpose of growing yams-and when the earth was carefully removed, a large chamber was discovered in the middle of the hill, nicely lined with strips of half-dried plantain leaves, technically called "trash," and containing six eggs, all fastened together. Just outside the hole was a heap of loose mould, which had evidently been thrown out when the excavation was made.

The Yellow Snake generally makes its home in the deep spaces between the spurs of the fig or the buttresses of the cotton-tree, and always lines it with "trash;" but that the creature should be able to excavate a burrow, and throw out the earth, seems almost incredible. How did the snake remove the earth? As the reptile was not seen in the act of excavating, this question could not be precisely answered. Mr. Hill, however, to whom the subject was referred, gave as his opinion that the snake loosened the earth with its snout, and then worked the loose soil out of the hollow by successive contractions of the segments of the abdomen, which would thus "deliver" the soil after the manner of the Archimedean screw.

The eggs which were found in the chamber were removed, and from one of them, which was opened, was taken a young snake, about seven inches in length.

CHAPTER IV.

BURROWING INVERTEBRATES.

CRUSTACEA.

The LAND CRABS and their Habits.-The Violet Land Crab.-Its Burrows, its Combativeness, and its pedestrian Powers.-The FIGHTING CRAB, why so called. -The RACER CRAB of Ceylon.-Its Burrows, and Mode of carrying off the Soil. -The ROBBER CRAB.-Its Form and general Habits.-Food of the Robber Crab. -A soft Bed and well-stocked Larder.-The CHELURA, and its Ravages among Timber.-The GRIBBLE and its Kin.

THE reader will doubtless perceive that among such a multitude of mammals and birds, each of which has some habitation, it is impossible to give more than a selection of some of the more remarkable examples. Although, therefore, there are many other burrowing and semi-burrowing vertebrates, we must leave the furred, feathered, and scaled tribes, and pass to those which occupy a lower place in the animal kingdom.

Among the Crustacea, there are very many species which form burrows, and which conceal themselves under the sand or mud. As, however, these creatures can not be said to form their habitations, and the burrows are mostly obliterated by the return of the water, they can scarcely be reckoned among those which make "homes without hands." Some, however, there are which are as fully entitled to be ranked among the true burrowers as any creature which we have mentioned, digging a regular burrow in the earth, residing in their subterranean home, issuing forth to procure food, and retiring to it when alarmed. These are the creatures so widely famous as LAND CRABS (Gecarcinus), respecting which so many wonderful tales are told, some true, some false, and many exaggerated. The Land Crabs are found in various parts of the world, and are notable for very similar habits. They all burrow in the ground, run with very great speed, bite with marvelous severity, and associate in considerable numbers. As a general fact, they are considered as great dainties, and when properly prepared, may be ranked among the standing luxuries of their country.

As the Violet Land Crab of Jamaica (Gecarcinus ruricola), is the most familiar of these creatures, we will take it as our first