suffering several wounds. The nest being surrounded with these thorns, it is evident that all ordinary foes would be baffled by such an array of points, no matter how anxious they might be to get at the creature within.

The thorns are equally efficient as a means of concealment. for, as they are taken from the tree itself, they cause the nest to harmonize so perfectly with surrounding objects, that it is not very easily perceived.

As long as the caterpillar remains in its larval state, and is obliged to feed, it traverses the branches freely, carrying with it the prickly home, and bearing the whole of its weight as it moves. But when the pupal stage has nearly arrived, the nest is suspended to the branch by strong silken threads, and thenceforth remains immoveable.

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CHAPTER XXXI.

MISCELLANEA.

The POLYZOA and their varied and beautiful forms-The RAFT SPIDER-Why se called-Mode of obtaining prey-Mice and their homes-The CAMPAGNOL or Harvest Mouse-Its general habits-Its winter and summer nest-Its storehouse and provisions-Entrance to the nest-The WooD MOUSE and its nestUses of the Field Mice-The DOMESTIC MOUSE-Various nests-Rapidity of nest-building-A nest in a bottle--The cell of the QUEEN TERMITE-Its en trances and exits-Size of the inmates-The FUNGUS ANT and its singular home-Material, structure, and size of the nest-The CLOTHES MOTHS and their various species--Habitations of the Clothes Moth, and the method of formation and enlargement-The ELK and its winter home-The snow fortress and its leaguers-Its use, advantages, and dangers-The ALBATROS and its mode of nesting-Strange scenes-The EDIBLE Swallow-Its mode of nesting—Origin of its name-Description of the nest-Curious legend respecting the bird-The EAGLE and its mode of nesting-Difficulty of reaching the eyrie — The NIGHTINGALE and its nest-Other ground-building birds and their temporary homes-The NODDY--Perilous position of the eggs, and young-The Coor, and its semi-aquatic nest.

IN this, the concluding chapter, are described sundry habitations which cannot well be classed in any of the previously mentioned groups, and which present some peculiarities which render them worthy of a separate notice.

We will begin with two aquatic habitations, one fixed, and set below the surface of the water, and the other moveable and floating upon it.

ANY one who is in the habit of frequenting the sea-shore must have observed certain rough, leaf-like objects, which are popularly called Sea Mats, one of which is shown, of its natural size, at Fig. 13. These objects are popularly supposed to be sea-weeds, and are therefore called Lemon-weeds, because they give forth an odour which somewhat resembles the fragrant oil

of the lemon-peel. Their origin, however, is of an animal and not a vegetable nature, for they are the submarine houses of a vast class of animals technically called POLYZOA, because many distinct animals are associated together in one community.

For many years their place in the scale of creation was extremely dubious, but they are now acknowledged to be allied to the molluscs, and to be really of a higher nature than the bright and active insects. In general form they so resemble the zoophytes, that the two great groups have been confused together, although they are in reality farther apart than the monkey and the snail. They assume various forms, which may be reduced to three, namely, a flat, leaf-like shape, a form as of delicate branching twigs, and a flat series of cells spreading over other substances, such as the stem or frond of a sea-weed, an empty shell, or submerged plant, and similar objects.

The most familiar of these Polyzoa is the common Sea Mat, which has already been mentioned, and which is called by the scientific name of Flustra Foliacea. If the finger be passed over one of these leaf-like objects, a decided roughness is felt, like the surface of a file, and if it be drawn through the hand from base to tip, the roughness becomes so marked that the leaf can hardly pass. The reason for this roughness may be seen by reference to Fig. 12, which is a magnified representation of a part of the same object. It will be seen that the Flustra is composed of a vast number of cells, each cell being furnished with little tooth-like projections, which produce the roughness. already mentioned.

The cells are formed by their inhabitants, and very much. resemble in outward form the polypi which fill the cells of the zoophytes, each of which possesses a beautiful plume of tentacles, as is seen in the uppermost cell. When the animals are at rest they are withdrawn so closely into their cells that they cannot be seen; but when they are hungry and desirous of feeding, they push themselves out of their houses, like so many snails out of their shells, expand their beautiful plumes, and await the food which is brought to them by the action of the water. Under the microscopes they are lovely objects, and even when they are dead their empty habitations are full of beauty.

A detailed description of all the species which are represented in the illustration would occupy too much space, even if it were