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diff --git a/44377-h/44377-h.htm b/44377-h/44377-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..435de5e --- /dev/null +++ b/44377-h/44377-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6793 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Natural History; or, Uncle Philip's Conversations + with the Children About Tools and Trades Among Inferior Animals by Lambert Lilly. + </title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + <style type="text/css"> + +/* PAGE LAYOUT */ +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +/* HEADINGS */ +h1,h2, h3 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +/* FONTS AND TEXTS */ +/* Text positioning */ +.center { + text-align: center; +} + +.hangingindent { + text-align: left; + padding-left: 1.4em ; + text-indent: -1.4em ; +} + +/* Margins */ +.margin-top1 { + margin-top: 1em; +} + +.margin-top3 { + margin-top: 3em; +} + +.margin-top4 { + margin-top: 4em; +} + +.margin-bottom5 { + margin-bottom: .5em; +} + +/* Fonts */ + +.smcap { + font-variant: small-caps; +} + +/* IMAGES */ +.bord img { + padding: 1px; + border: 2px + solid black; +} + +.caption { + font-size: .8em; + text-align: center; +} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + text-align: center; +} + +.figcenter2 { + margin: auto; + margin-top: 5em; + text-align: center; +} + +/* PAGE NUMBERS */ +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +/* visibility: hidden;*/ +} + +/* THOUGHT BREAKS */ +hr.chap { + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 4em; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + width: 65%; +} + +hr.r5 { + width: 5%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: 47.5%; + margin-right: 47.5%; +} + +hr.r15 { + margin-left: 42.5%; + margin-right: 42.5%; + width: 15%; + margin-top: 1.5em; + margin-bottom: 1.5em; +} + +hr.r50 { + width: 50%; + margin-left: 25%; + margin-right: 25%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 3em; + height: 2px; + color: #000; + background: #000; +} + +/* TABLES */ +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +/* Table of contents*/ +.toctable { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + width:100%; + border:0; + border-spacing:0px; + padding:2px; +} + +/* Chapter no. headings */ +td.chap-no { + text-align: center; + padding-top: 2em; +} + +/* TOC summaries */ +.tocsum { + text-align: left; + vertical-align: bottom; + padding-top: 1em; + padding-left: 1.5em; + text-indent: -1.5em; +} + +/* Table columns */ + +td.page { + text-align: right; + vertical-align: bottom; + padding-right: 0em; +} + +/* TEXT BLOCKS */ +/* Chapter summaries */ +.chapsum { + padding-left: 1.5em; + text-indent: -1.5em; +} + +/* FOOTNOTES*/ + +/* Footnotes container*/ +.footnotes { + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; +} + +.footnote { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + +.footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 87.5%; + text-align: right; +} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; +} + +/* TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES */ +.transnote { + background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + padding-bottom:1em; + padding-top: .5em; + margin-left:5%; + margin-right:5%; + padding-left:2em; + padding-right:1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.covernote { + visibility:hidden; + display:none; +} + +@media handheld { +.covernote { + visibility:visible; + display:block; +} +} + </style> + </head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44377 ***</div> + +<div class="transnote covernote"> + <p> The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in + the public domain.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="figcenter bord"><a name="i_002.jpg" id="i_002.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_002.jpg" + alt="Uncle Philip Talking to the Boys" /> + <div class="caption">UNCLE PHILIP TALKING TO THE BOYS.</div> +</div> + +<p class="center margin-top1"><i>J.&J. Harper. New-York.</i></p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p class="center">UNCLE PHILIP'S CONVERSATIONS<br /> +<br /> +with Young Persons.</p> + +<div class="figcenter2"><a name="i_003.jpg" id="i_003.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/i_003.jpg" +alt="Uncle Philip's Conversations" /> +</div> + +<p class="center margin-top4">NEW YORK<br /> +J. & J. HARPER 82 CLIFF STṬ.<br /> +1833. +</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h1><big>NATURAL HISTORY;</big><br /><br /> +<small>OR,</small><br /><br /> +UNCLE PHILIP'S<br /><br /> +CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CHILDREN<br /><br /> +<small>ABOUT</small><br /><br /> +TOOLS AND TRADES<br /><br /> +<small>AMONG</small><br /><br /> +INFERIOR ANIMALS.</h1> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p class="center">WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.</p> + +<hr class="r50" /> + +<p class="center margin-top1">NEW-YORK:<br /><br /> +PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS,<br /><br /> +NO. 82 CLIFF-STREET.</p> + +<hr class="r5" /> + +<p class="center">1835.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<p class="center margin-top1"> +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1835,<br /> +By <span class="smcap">Harper & Brothers</span>,<br /> +In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="ADVERTISEMENT" id="ADVERTISEMENT"></a>ADVERTISEMENT.</h2> + + +<p>We must tell our little readers something about +this number of their Library. It was sent to us by +a very kind old uncle of ours, who, when we were +young, was so much from home, visiting various +places in the world, that we do not remember seeing +him very often at that period. At last, the old man, +finding that he could not bear fatigue as he had +done when young, determined to come home; and +we had heard so much about him that we were quite +anxious to see him. He came to our house one +evening, and appeared rather odd to us; but he was +so good-natured, and told us so many curious things, +that we soon forgot his odd appearance.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman brought home with him a very +large number of books, and a great many strange +things which he had gathered in his travels, such as +stones, and dried insects, and leaves, and flowers, +and stuffed birds, and animals. He did not stay +with us long, but went to the village where he was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +born, and built a small house to which he carried all +his books and curiosities, and said that he should +spend the rest of his days there.</p> + +<p>We sometimes pay him a visit. The last time +we were there, we found him talking to several children +around him. In the beginning of the book +there is a picture of the old gentleman. After you +have looked at it, you may read the letter which he +sent us, and learn how he came to write this book.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Your friends,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 55%;"><span class="smcap">The Publishers</span>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="UNCLE_PHILIPS_LETTER" id="UNCLE_PHILIPS_LETTER"></a>UNCLE PHILIP'S LETTER.</h2> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">My dear Nephews,</span></span><br /> +</p> + +<p>I was very much pleased to receive the numbers +of your Library for Boys and Girls which you sent +to me. You know I am now an old man, and have +travelled a great deal, and seen a great many strange +things in the course of my life. I am too old to travel +any more, and so I am quietly living in the cottage I +built by the side of that pleasant and shady little +stream where I played when I was a boy. I read +my books, and especially that best of all of them, +my Bible; and so am patiently waiting till my +Heavenly Father shall call me to take my last journey; +when I hope, for the sake of the blessed +Saviour, to go to Him. Sometimes I walk out +into the village, and meet the children and have a +long talk with them. They all know me; and very +often, some of them will come to my house, and +ask me to tell them about things which I have seen +in my travels or read of in books: and so I spend +many happy hours with the little creatures; for you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +know how much I love children. When I had +read the books you sent to me, I lent them to +the children, who were delighted; and I thought +that if I should sometimes write down what we here +talked about, it might please the little boys and girls +for whom you print your books, and perhaps they +might learn something from our conversations which +would be useful: and so I determined to send them +to you, from time to time, to print, if you pleased.</p> + +<p>If you think fit to print what I send, just tell your +little readers who I am; an aged and quiet old man, +who is very fond of little boys and girls, and wishes +them to be wise and good here, and happy hereafter, +and that I am your</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 70%;"><span class="smcap">Uncle Philip</span>.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Newtown, Feb</i>. 1833.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="margin-top1">P.S. If you print what I send now, please to print +the Preface to Parents, which I also send; in order +that they may, by reading it, see what sort of a book +Uncle Philip has been making for their dear children, +and may be satisfied that it will not harm them to +read it.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="PREFACE_TO_PARENTS" id="PREFACE_TO_PARENTS"></a>PREFACE TO PARENTS.</h2> + +<p>The author of the following book avails himself +of the opportunity afforded by its publication, +to address a word to those who sustain the delightful +and responsible relation of parents.</p> + +<p>To such of that class as may honour by a perusal +this humble attempt to interest and instruct their +offspring, the author need not say that the subject +of his book possesses for himself peculiar attractions: +it will readily be perceived that he has found +a charm in the pursuits of the naturalist. The +votary of a favourite science would anticipate too +much, should he expect every one to partake of the +enthusiasm which is apt to stimulate him; it is +wisely and kindly ordered that we shall not all be +enthusiasts in the same direction. The author, however, +still ventures to hope, that in his subject there +is enough to attract, though it may fail to fascinate. +He hopes, too, that it will be found not attractive +merely, but profitable also to his young countrymen. +There are many reasons on which to found such +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +a hope. If to entertain reverence for our Maker, +to admire and adore his wisdom and goodness in +the illustrations of nature, thankfully to acknowledge +and duly to improve the superiority which +mind confers, be exercises in which a wise parent +would desire to train a child,—the study of natural +science is admirably adapted to the attainment +of these objects. Again, if it be desirable to encourage +habits of patient observation, accuracy of +investigation, and soundness of thought; let the volume +of nature be opened before the youthful mind. +If to learn <i>things</i> be better than to learn <i>words</i>, it +is important to place things before the growing +intellects of the young. Let it not be supposed that +to present matters of science intelligibly to the minds +of children is a hopeless task. It requires not +learning or maturity of understanding to perceive +a <i>fact</i>; it needs only the ordinary senses which God +has bestowed alike upon children and their parents. +Natural science is emphatically the science of +<i>facts</i>; built upon any other foundation it becomes +conjecture merely: and he knows but little of the +mind of a child who is not aware of the facility with +which a fact is impressed upon it. The secret of +instructing the young will be found to consist more +in the mode of communication than in the nature +of the subject.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>As to the style of this work a word may be said; +not, of course, for the purpose of disarming criticism +(for truly the writer has never supposed his trifle worth +the critic's labour or notice), but simply to remark, +that the object has been to write for the minds of <i>children</i>; +if the book be intelligible to them, the utmost +ambition of Uncle Philip will be attained. Truth +and plainness were all he sought. The first he believes +he has attained; and to determine his success +in attempting the last, he turns from the parents, and +looks for the decision of the question to the suffrages +of the children. He would rather hear the expression +of satisfaction from the lips of one intelligent +little reader, than receive the words of approbation +from many who are elders; the first is testimony +derived from experience, the last is but opinion. +Children always know better than any one else does +what books they understand.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, the author owes it to himself to +say to the parents of his young countrymen, and to +the patrons of the "Boy's and Girl's Library," +that what he has written will be found on the side +of religion and morals. So far as these important +points are concerned, the writer is not ashamed +to avow himself a Christian; nor yet does he mean +to make it the subject of boasting. In his simple +view, Christianity is a very quiet and gentle thing, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +which eschews strife, and promotes practical goodness; +and truly can he say, that he has indulged +in some of his happiest and, as he trusts, his holiest +musings when, in the solitary pursuit of his +favourite science,—to use the language of good old +Izaak Walton, that simple-hearted lover of God, and +all his works,—"he has looked upon the wonders +of nature with admiration, or found some harmless +insect to content him, and pass away a little time, +without offence to God, or injury to man."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table class="toctable" id="TOC" summary="CONTENTS"> + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_I" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION I.</a></td> + <td class="page">Page</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About a Fly that can work with a Saw and a Rasp, + like the Carpenter</td> + <td class="page">13</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_II" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION II.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About Grasshoppers and Bees that bore Holes with a Gimlet</td> + <td class="page">19</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_III" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION III.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About Animals that are Tailors</td> + <td class="page">27</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_IV" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION IV.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About the first Paper in the World made by Wasps</td> + <td class="page">41</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_V" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION V.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">A Story about Tom Smith, and of Bees with Brushes and Baskets, + and of a Bird with a Chisel, and a Gnat with a Lancet</td> + <td class="page">53</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_VI" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION VI.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About Animals that can do Mason's Work</td> + <td class="page">66</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_VII" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION VII.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About Animals that throw Dirt with a Spade; and about an + Animal with a Hook; and about one that is a Wire-drawer</td> + <td class="page">80</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_VIII" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION VIII.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About a Door, with a Hinge and Spring to it, made by a Spider; + and the Difference between God's Work and Man's</td> + <td class="page">94</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> + <a href="#CONVERSATION_IX" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION IX.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">A Story about a Philosopher and his Kite; and about Ants that + have Awls, and build Cities, and Stairs, and Bridges, and many other Things</td> + <td class="page">104</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_X" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION X.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">More about the white Ants</td> + <td class="page">120</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_XI" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION XI.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About some other Ants that are very good Masons, and build + Walls and Ceilings; and a Story about a very sensible Ant which seemed + to think a little</td> + <td class="page">129</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_XII" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION XII.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About Ants that go to War, and fight Battles; and about some + that are Thieves, and have Slaves</td> + <td class="page">138</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_XIII" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION XIII.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">A Voyage; and an Animal that makes itself into a Ship; + and of Insect that builds a Boat, and floats about in a Canoe; and of + another that pumps Water, and wears a Mask; and of a Spider that + builds a Raft, and floats upon it</td> + <td class="page">151</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_XIV" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION XIV.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About an Insect with Tweezers, and another with Pincers; + and how a Fly's Foot is made, so as to stick to the Wall</td> + <td class="page">167</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_XV" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION XV.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">How Hats are made; and about Animals that can make Felt + like the Hatter</td> + <td class="page">181</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="chap-no"><a href="#CONVERSATION_XVI" style="text-decoration: none;"> + CONVERSATION XVI.</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocsum">About Birds that are Weavers, and the Politician Bird; + a Story about some Philosophers; and what may be learned + from these Conversations</td> + <td class="page">202</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="NATURAL_HISTORY" id="NATURAL_HISTORY"></a>NATURAL HISTORY.</h2> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_I" id="CONVERSATION_I"></a>CONVERSATION I.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children about a Fly +that can work with a Saw and a Rasp, like the Carpenter.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, boys, this is a beautiful day. The +sun is shining brightly, and the birds are +singing, and the insects are flying about, and +the grass is green, and every thing appears +pleasant, and you feel happy too, and have +come, I suppose, to see old Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Philip, we are tired of playing +now, and so we have come to ask you to talk +with us, and tell us about some of the +curious things you know."</p> + +<p>"Well, boys, I will tell you about some +very strange things. I will talk to you about +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +animals that know how to work with tools +like a man."</p> + +<p>"Work with tools, Uncle Philip! That +is strange; but we know it is so, if you say +so; because you will not tell us any stories +but true ones. But where do they get the +tools?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, boys, 'the hand that made them is +<i>divine</i>!' They get them where we get all +that is useful and good,—from God. The +Bible says that He '<i>is wise in heart, and wonderful +in working</i>;' and he has made many +a poor little insect, and given it tools to work +with for its comfort, as good and perfect as +any that man can make. Yes, these poor +little creatures had tools long before man had. +God cares for the insects, boys, as well as +for us."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, what sort of tools do +you mean? Tell us about them."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I will; do you think of some +kind of tools that men use: think of the carpenter +and his tools, and let us see if we cannot +find some of them among the insects."</p> + +<p>"Why, the carpenter has a saw. Is there +any saw among these little fellows?"</p> + +<p>"Yes indeed, there is; and a capital saw +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +it is. Now listen, and I will tell you all about +it. There is a kind of fly called the <i>saw-fly</i>; +it has four wings, and commonly its body is +yellow, and its head is black; but the most +curious part of it is the saw. The young +ones feed upon the leaves of rose-bushes, and +gooseberries, and raspberries, and currants, +and several other kinds of bushes; and the +old ones always lay their eggs on the branches +of these bushes, so that the young ones may +have something to eat as soon as they come +out. It uses its saw to make a place in the +branch to put its egg in."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, what is the saw made of?"</p> + +<p>"It is made of something like horn, and +is fixed very nicely in a case; it resembles +what the cabinet-makers call a <i>tenon-saw</i> more +than it does the carpenter's common saw. +The tenon-saw is made of a thin plate of +steel, and has a stiff brass back, to keep it from +bending. The brass back has a groove in it, +and the saw is put in that groove, and then +it is fastened to it. But the fly's saw is fixed +in another way: there is a back to it too, but +that back is not fastened to the saw. The +groove is in the saw, and there is a ridge all +along the back-piece, which just fits in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +groove, and so the saw slides backwards and +forwards, and the ridge always keeps it in its +place. Besides all this, boys, the fly is better +off than the cabinet-maker, for he uses only +one saw at a time; but our little workman +has two exactly alike, and they are so fixed +that the creature first pushes out one, and +when it is drawing that back, pushes out +the other; so that it is all the time cutting, +and does double work. I think the fly's saw +is the best, too, for another reason. The +saws of the carpenter and cabinet-maker +have their teeth bent; first, one a little on +one side, and then the next to it a little on the +other side, and so on to the end of the saw; +so that when sawing, the cut may be wide +enough for the blade to move easily. Now +the fly's saw has the teeth a little bent, or +twisted, too; but it has something else: on +the outside of every tooth there are a great +many very small teeth, so that the outside of +every one is just like a <i>rasp</i>, or <i>file</i>."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, it must take them a +great while to saw a very little cut; they are +so small."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it does; but they persevere. It takes +them more than an hour and a half to make +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +one groove, and sometimes they will go on +and make as many as six without stopping. +That shows, boys, what perseverance will do."</p> + +<p>"And when it is done sawing, Uncle Philip, +where does it keep its saws?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I told you they fitted in a case; but +when the fly is done sawing, it uses the saws +to put the egg in the place cut for it, and then +it draws the saws almost entirely into the +case, and drops upon the egg a sort of frothy +stuff like a drop of soap-lather."</p> + +<p>"What is that for?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is to glue the egg fast, or else +to keep the juices in the bush from hurting +it."</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a curious fly, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"It is strange, boys, because you never +heard of it before; but it is a cunning fly, as +well as a curious one."</p> + +<p>"What does it do, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Why, when it is frightened, it will fold +up its case and saws under its body, and draw +up its legs, and pretend to be dead; and then +it will not move, even if you stick a pin +through it."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell us any thing more about +this fly?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nothing very strange, boys; but we have +found out <i>two</i> tools, I think, a saw and a rasp, +and that is enough for one poor little fly to +give us. Here, boys, are pictures of these +saws; I have made them a great deal larger +than they are in the fly, so that you can see +them plainly."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_022a.jpg" id="i_022a.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_022a.jpg" + alt="Saw of the Saw-fly" /> + <div class="caption">Saw of the Saw-fly, with Rasps shown in the Cross-lines.</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_022b.jpg" id="i_022b.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_022b.jpg" + alt="Saw-fly's comb-toothed Rasp" /> + <div class="caption">Portion of the Saw-fly's comb-toothed Rasp, and Saw.</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_II" id="CONVERSATION_II"></a>CONVERSATION II.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children about Grasshoppers +and Bees, that bore Holes with a Gimlet.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, Uncle Philip, here we are again, to +hear more about the tools that animals work +with; we have seen in the bark of trees, and +old wooden posts, little holes as round as a +gimlet could make, and we have been thinking +whether any of these little creatures have +augers and gimlets, as well as saws. Do +you know of any of them that can bore +holes?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, boys; I know of more than one +that can bore as smooth and round a hole as +any carpenter you ever saw. There are some +of the grasshoppers that have an excellent +gimlet. The contrivance has five pieces in +it; two of the pieces make a case to keep the +augers in, two more are the augers or borers, +and the other is a piece between the two borers +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +on which they slide; this piece has a ridge on +each side of it, and the augers have a groove +which exactly fits the ridge. Besides this, +each auger ends in a knob, and that knob has +teeth all around it. Here is a picture of it."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_024.jpg" id="i_024.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_024.jpg" + alt="Ovipositors, with files" /> + <div class="caption">Ovipositors, with files, of the Grasshopper, magnified.</div> +</div> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, what is the piece with +the ridge for?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, boys, that piece shows the wisdom +and the goodness of God. '<i>His tender mercies +are over all his works</i>:' he has placed +that piece there to keep the borers stiff, so that +they cannot get out of joint, or be broken, +when the little workman is boring."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, this is very curious."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but there are some of these insect +workmen more curious still. Did you ever +see a spy-glass? You know it is a round, +hollow piece of wood, with brass tubes in it, +which are made smaller and smaller, so as to +slide into one another, when the glass is not +used. Now there is a sort of gadfly (she is a +little creature, too) which has exactly such a +contrivance to keep her gimlet in. It is in +four pieces, and the smallest piece ends in +five sharp points, three of which are longer +than the other two: she twists these five sharp +points into one piece, and as some are longer +and some shorter, when they are all put together, +they make a sharp edge running all +around, and are almost exactly like an auger +or gimlet. When she wants to use it, +she just shoots out the different tubes, so as +to make a stem for the gimlet; and when she +is done, she puts all back into its case again.</p> + +<p>"Here is a drawing of it, and I think that +by looking at it you will understand what +I have been telling you: I do not know +whether men learned from this part of the fly +how to make the case of a spy-glass; but I +know they might have learned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_026.jpg" id="i_026.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_026.jpg" + alt="Ovipositor or Gimlet of the Gadfly" /> + <div class="caption">Ovipositor or Gimlet of the Gadfly, greatly magnified, with + a claw and part of the tube, distinct.</div> +</div> + +<p>"There is also a bee, boys, which is called +the <i>carpenter-bee</i>, because it is such an excellent +wood-borer. It commonly looks for some +old post, or dry plank, or withered part of a +tree, to work in. It never works in wood that +is green and has the sap or juices in it; for +the bee knows, just as well as any carpenter +does, that it is very hard to get tools through +such wood. I expect that you have seen +sometimes, when an old post or dry board was +split, a long hollow groove in the middle of it, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +with little round thin pieces of something like +paper, about as thick as a wafer, fastened in +it by their edges, one above the other, all the +way through. These show the work of the +carpenter-bee: she bored the hole, and she put +those little partitions like paper in it, to separate +the cells; and more than that, she made +the partitions out of the dust she got by boring. +She always likes, too, to get a piece of +wood in a place where the sun can shine on +it; and when she has made her choice, she +begins to bore at first into the post in a slanting +direction, and as soon as she has gone +far enough in, she then turns and bores +straight, with the grain of the wood."</p> + +<p>"Does she do it quickly, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Not very quickly, for sometimes the wood +is very hard; I have seen one of these holes +nearly twelve inches long in a very hard oak +board. Sometimes she has to work at it for +months; but she works steadily, boys, and +that does a great deal. What makes it more +tiresome is, that the poor little creature has to +bring out all the dust she makes by boring."</p> + +<p>"How large is the hole?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, large enough to put my forefinger in, +and sometimes fifteen inches long. After she +has bored it as deep as is necessary, she begins +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +to divide it into separate cells. So she commences +at the bottom, and puts in a quantity of +what is called bee-bread, until it reaches about +an inch in height; on the top of this she lays +an egg, and the bread is put there to feed the +young one as soon as it comes out of the egg. +She then makes a floor over it out of the dust, +as I told you; she knows how to glue this +dust together, and she brings it grain by grain +from the heap in which she put it when she +first brought it out: and she always begins +by gluing the dust around the outside of the +hole she has bored, and then glues another +ring to that, and then another, and another, +making each ring smaller and smaller, until +she has it all filled; so that her floor, when it +is done, appears like a parcel of rings of +smaller and smaller sizes placed within each +other. On the top of this floor she puts bee-bread, +as before, and places another egg on it, +and then covers it with a floor again; and so +she goes on making cells and filling them with +bread, and covering each with a floor, until +she has filled up the hole."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, how do the young bees get +out when the egg is hatched? It seems as if +they were shut up for ever in prison."</p> + +<p>"No, boys; there is a way for them to get +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +out, and it shows the wonderful wisdom of +God in teaching this poor bee how to contrive +the matter. The egg which is put in the +lowest cell being the oldest, the little worm +that is afterward to be a bee will come out +of that one first: now, you know, he never +could get through all the cells over his head, +filled as they are with bee-bread, so as to come +out at the top of the hole. If he gets out at +all, then, it must be at the bottom. The old +bee knows this, and she so arranges these +eggs that when the worm comes out it will be +with his head pointed downwards; he falls to +eating his bread, and so eats himself down to +the bottom of his cell, and there he finds that +his mother has bored a hole from his cell to +the outside, and through that he comes out. +When his brother in the cell above him has +eaten his way down to the bottom of his cell, +he just eats through the floor and gets into +the cell below, which is then empty, you +know, and walks out at the same hole which +his older brother used before him. And so all +the rest one after another eat their way downwards +into the empty cells below them, and +get out at the same back-door, which their +mother made by what we call her <i>instinct</i>, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +which just means the share of wisdom which +God gives to the lower animals to show them +how to take care of themselves."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_030.jpg" id="i_030.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_030.jpg" + alt="Post tunnelled by carpenter-bees" /> + <div class="caption"><b>A</b>, represents a part of a post, tunnelled in several + places by the violet carpenter-bee; the stick is split, and shows the nests and + passages by which they are approached. <b>C</b>, a piece of thin stick, pierced + by the carpenter-bee, and split, to show the nests. <b>D</b>, perspective view of + one of the partitions. <b>E</b>, carpenter-bee. <b>F</b>, teeth of the carpenter-bee, + greatly magnified; <i>a</i>, the upper side; <i>b</i>, lower side.</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, that instinct, as you call it, Uncle +Philip, is a curious thing."</p> + +<p>"Very curious, very curious indeed, boys; +and at some other time, if you wish, we will +talk more about it, and I will tell you a great +many stories of animals, which will show you +their instinct. But for this time I have told +you enough to keep you thinking until we +meet again. So now just look at this picture +of the carpenter-bee's house, and then you +may go home."</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_III" id="CONVERSATION_III"></a>CONVERSATION III.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children about Animals + that are Tailors.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Uncle Philip</span>, we are very glad to see +you, and we think we have found out something +to ask you, about a kind of work which +men do, that no other animal can accomplish. +As we came along this morning to visit you, +and were talking of what you had told us of +insects that, like carpenters, could saw wood +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +and bore holes in it, we passed by the tailor's +shop, near the church; 'and now,' said we, +'we have found out something which will +puzzle good Uncle Philip: there are surely no +tailors among the lower animals; so we will +ask him to-day to talk about creatures that +can cut out cloth and sew it up with a +needle.'"</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear children, there are a great +many things which would puzzle Uncle Philip. +I do not know every thing; nor do I suppose +that I can find <i>every</i> trade in the world among +the dumb creatures which God has made. +But you have made a bad choice of a puzzle +this morning, my boys; for there are tailors +among the inferior creatures, and some pretty +nice ones, too; at any rate, they always cut +so as to fit exactly."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip! You do not mean +to say that they can cut out <i>cloth</i>, and then +sew it up again with a needle and thread!"</p> + +<p>"No, boys; I do not think it is to be expected +that they should take a pair of shears +and cut a piece of cloth, or put a piece of +thread through the eye of a steel needle; any +more than we expect the insect that saws, to +go to the cabinet-maker, and borrow his tool +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +to work with. But with the instruments +which God has given to them, they will cut +what is cloth to them, the leaves of trees and +flowers, and will sew them together too: and, +now I think of it, there is one that will cut +his garments out of our cloth."</p> + +<p>"Pray let us hear about them, Uncle +Philip."</p> + +<p>"Softly, boys, softly. I have two things to +say to you before I begin. In the first place, I +am very glad to hear that you think and talk +among yourselves about the things which I +tell you: and in the next place, I know that +you love <i>me</i>, and, therefore would not wish, +by <i>puzzling</i> me, as you call it, to produce +mortification or vexation; nor do I think that +I should have felt either vexed or mortified +had I not been able to find tailors among the +lower animals; but I do not wish you to take +pleasure in puzzling people; for it is very apt +to produce in you a feeling of triumph, and to +make you vain: and you must remember +that for <i>one</i> of your questions which cannot +be answered, a <i>thousand</i> might be put to you, +of the answer to which you would be ignorant. +No man, my dear boys, knows every +thing. Wise men talk with each other, that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +they may learn from each other; and the +wisest are not ashamed to acknowledge their +ignorance of some things; and I believe they +take very little pleasure in puzzling. It is +our duty to learn all that we can, and to be +always willing at a proper time to teach +others what we know."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, dear Uncle Philip, for your +advice. We did not mean to triumph over +<i>you</i>, if you had not been able to tell us of +tailors among the animals. But we see that +you are right. We might get a foolish habit, +which would do us harm."</p> + +<p>"Exactly what I meant, boys; and now +let us begin. And first we will talk of the +cutting out, as the tailor always does that before +he sews. There is a kind of bee +<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> which, +like some of the insects we have already +spoken of, is furnished with a borer. With +this she forms a round hole, like that made +with an auger or gimlet, in a hard-trodden +path, or sometimes in a piece of soft decayed +wood. It is in making her nest in this hole +that she plays the part of a tailor, for the nest +is made of leaves, sometimes taken from the +rose, at others from the birch, ash, or other +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +trees. The little creature cuts them commonly, +and I believe always, into two shapes. +They are either half-oval, that is, half the +shape of the bowl of a spoon, or round, and +are of different sizes. Sometimes she makes +a mistake in the size, and when she finds it +out, she alters it. These leaves are prepared +to line the hole which she has bored, and she +begins with the largest pieces; taking them +into the hole, she winds around in it, until +she has spread very smoothly a tube of leaves +the whole length of it; she then closes up +one end of it by rounding it off and doubling +the pieces of leaf one over another. In this +case she sets about making her <i>cells</i>. She +takes three of her half-oval pieces which have +been cut to fit, and contrives to roll them, so +that the edge of one piece will just lap over +the edge of the next; these, when she has finished +rolling them, make the hollow of the +cell, which is not quite an inch high. She +next turns up the ends of these pieces, which +are cut to fit, so as to form the bottom: she +then sets to work with three other pieces +rolled in the same way inside of the cell just +finished, turning up their ends as before to +form the bottom; and within these she again +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +works three others, so that her cell, when it is +done, is of nine thicknesses of leaves. And +you see why, though she cuts the pieces of the +same shape, they are not all of one size: they +are of three sizes, so as to make the cells +within each other smaller and smaller."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, you have not said any +thing about the round pieces which she cuts; +how does she use them?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you: after she has finished one +cell she lays an egg in it, and fills it all round +with food nearly liquid; now as the cell is +lying down on its side, all this liquid food +would run out if it were not corked up, and +the bee therefore uses her circular pieces to +stop up the cells."</p> + +<p>"And does she really make these round +pieces to fit the cell?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, exactly; and they are cut too as +regularly as if they had been first measured +and marked with a pair of compasses. And, +more than this, the little creature will fit one in +in less than a minute. But the most curious +thing is, that sometimes she will fly off to a +distance to get this round piece, and bring +back one which will exactly suit; so that it +really seems as if she carried the size in her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +head. After finishing one cell she will make +another, until she has completed as many as +she wants; and then, as she always builds +them one upon another, they appear like a +parcel of thimbles stuck into each other and +put into a case: and here is a picture of it."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_037.jpg" id="i_037.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_037.jpg" + alt="Rose-leaf-cutter Bees" /> + <div class="caption">Rose-leaf-cutter Bees, and Nest lined with Rose-leaves</div> +</div> + +<p>"This is very wonderful, Uncle Philip; +and it does seem like cutting out pieces to fit."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very true: but this is not the only cutter-out +of leaves among the bees. There is another +kind, called the poppy-bee, +<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> because it +uses the scarlet leaves of the poppy-flower to +line its cell. It makes its hole in the ground, +as smooth and regular and polished as can be, +and then proceeds to line it all around with +pieces of the leaves, and cuts them to fit as +she goes on. If a piece is too large she will +trim it down to the proper size and shape, and +always carries away the scraps. Now if you +should take a pair of scissors and try to cut +the leaf of a poppy-flower, you would wrinkle +it, but this little workman will spread out what +she cuts as smooth as glass. When she has +lined this hole throughout, and carried the +lining out beyond the entrance, she fills it with +honey and <i>pollen</i>, or bee-bread, as it is called, +about half an inch high, lays an egg, then +folds down the leaves on it, and finally fills +the upper part with earth."</p> + +<p>"Then she was not working for herself?"</p> + +<p>"No; she was providing a house for her +young, and God has taught her thus to take +care of it.</p> + +<p>"I will now tell you of another little workman, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +which I have heard called the cloak-maker, +because it makes for itself a mantle +which really appears very much like a cloak; +and, stranger still, this cloak is lined throughout +with silk."</p> + +<p>"Can it be possible, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Listen, and you shall hear. These mantle-looking +cases are made by the <i>larva</i>, as it +is called, or grub of a little moth which forms +a covering of pure silk; this silk it spins +from itself; it is not woven so as to appear +like our silk, but still it is real silk, and +is worked into a great many thin scales, +which lap over one another like the scales +of a fish. But this is only the lining of +the cloak. This little tailor is the field-moth, +which first eats what it wants from a green +leaf, and then, from the thin membranes left, +sets about making its mantle: and it makes +it of two pieces cut out and joined together +with a seam, just as a tailor would make it."</p> + +<p>"How does it go to work, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I will give you the account as it +was given by a gentleman<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> who was very fond +of observing insects, and who watched one of +these little creatures. He says that from the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +thin membrane of the leaf it first cut two +pieces just equal in size and of exactly the +same shape; each of these pieces was to form +one-half of the cloak, and this he says was +done wonderfully fast. He noticed, too, that +one end of each piece, that which was meant +for the bottom of the cloak, was just twice as +long as the other end, which was the top. +The insect then placed itself between the two +pieces while they were lying flat; it afterward +brought the two sides where the seam was to +be, together, and fastened them at certain +places, still leaving, however, considerable +spaces open. It then began to turn and twist +its body about in all directions, until it +moulded the pieces into a hollow form to fit. +When it found that it would fit its body, it +brought the edges of the seam close together +through the whole length, and contrived to +sew or fasten them so neatly together, that +when the gentleman looked, even with a magnifying-glass, +he said he could hardly find the +seam. The whole was lined with the silk +spun from itself, and was finished in about +twelve hours."</p> + +<p>"Why, this little workman is the strangest +of all: but, Uncle Philip, you said there was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +one of these animal tailors that cut his garment +out of <i>cloth</i>: pray tell us of him."</p> + +<p>"When I said that, boys, I was thinking of +the clothes-moth.<a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> They make their coats +of wool commonly taken from our cloth, and +silk drawn from their own mouths; and the +strangest thing concerning them is, that when +they outgrow their clothes they will piece +them to make them larger. Suppose the insect +wants it longer, it adds a new ring of +wool to the end: suppose it wants it wider, it +slits the case or garment, not from one end to +the other, for this would leave it naked, but it +splits it half-way down the sides, and when it +has filled it in with proper pieces, it splits the +remaining half, and puts other pieces in them. +There is another curious thing about this +tailor: it always makes its coat of the same +colour with the cloth from which it takes the +wool; so that if it has first made its garment +of a piece of blue cloth, and is placed on a +bit of red cloth when it wishes to enlarge it, +you will see its work exactly, for the pieces +which it puts in will be red. This is the little +fellow, boys, which does so much mischief to +our clothes."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Philip, one can almost forgive +his mischief for the sake of his ingenuity. +But you have said nothing yet about <i>needles</i>; +how do these little creatures sew?"</p> + +<p>"Why, they have what serves as a needle +to them: but I can tell you of another animal +which sews with a needle a great deal plainer +to be seen than that of these little insects."</p> + +<p>"Pray let us hear of him, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"I must go among the birds to find this +workman. There is a kind of starling, called +the orchard starling,<a name="FNanchor_5" id="FNanchor_5"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> about which, Mr. Wilson, +a gentleman who has written a great deal concerning +the birds of our country, gives a very +curious account. He says that this bird commonly +hangs its nest from the twigs of an apple-tree, +and makes it in a very singular manner. +The outside is made of a particular kind +of long tough grass, that will bend without +breaking, and this grass is knit or sewed +through and through in a thousand directions, +just as if done with a needle. The little +creature does it with its feet and bill. Mr. +Wilson says that he one day showed one of +these nests to an old lady, and she was so +much struck with the work that she asked +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +him, half in earnest, if he did not think that +these birds could be taught to <i>darn stockings</i>? +Mr. Wilson took the pains too to draw out one +of these grass threads, and found that it measured +thirteen inches, and in that distance the +bird who used it had passed it in and out +thirty-four times."</p> + +<p>"Why, this was sewing, sure enough."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and I saw, when I was in the West +Indies, another kind of starling <a name="FNanchor_6" id="FNanchor_6"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> which will +cut leaves into a shape like the quarter of an +orange-rind, and sew the whole very neatly to +the under side of a banana-leaf, so as to +make one side of the nest. But, boys, there +is another most beautiful little bird, which is +called the tailor-bird, because it sews so well.<a name="FNanchor_7" id="FNanchor_7"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +It first picks out a plant with large leaves, then +it gathers cotton from the shrub, and with the +help of its fine long bill and slender little feet +it spins this cotton into a thread, and then +using its bill for a needle, it will sew these +large leaves together to hide its nest, and sew +them very neatly, too."</p> + +<p>"Why, dear Uncle Philip, this is the most +wonderful tailor of them all."</p> + +<p>"He is, indeed: but, my children, what do +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +we learn from all that I have been telling you? +Who made these little creatures with such +curious skill, and taught them to work so +well? It was the same God who made us; +for such wonderful things never came from +what people call <i>chance</i>. Chance, boys, never +made any thing: and how very wise he must +be to form such nice little workmen; and how +very good thus to teach them how to take care +of themselves. The Bible says, truly, that +'<i>his tender mercies are over all his works</i>.' +And I think, boys, we may learn another +thing: it is, not to be so very proud of what +we know; for I rather suppose that we shall +often find that the lower creatures around us +understood many of our trades long before we +found them out."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Philip, it is likely that these +little fellows you have been telling us of this +morning were the first tailors in the world."</p> + +<p>"Very likely, very likely indeed, boys. +But now I must bid you good morning; for +here comes our good clergyman, and I am +going with him to see a poor sick woman."</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Uncle Philip; we will +come again on Saturday."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"> + <span class="label">[1]</span></a> Megachile centuncularis. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Osmia papaveris. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Reaumur. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<a name="Footnote_4" id="Footnote_4"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Tinea sarcitella. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_5" id="Footnote_5"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Icterus mutatus. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_6" id="Footnote_6"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Icterus bonana. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_7" id="Footnote_7"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Sylvia sutoria. +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_IV" id="CONVERSATION_IV"></a>CONVERSATION IV.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children about the first +Paper in the World, made by Wasps.</i></div> + + +<p>"Ah, boys! how do you do? This is Saturday, +and I have been expecting to see you +come for some time."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip, we should have been +here sooner, but we went round by the old +mill; because we thought that perhaps we +might find in some of the old timbers, holes +bored by some of those industrious little carpenters +you told us about."</p> + +<p>"Well; and did you find any?"</p> + +<p>"No; but we found something else, which +we have brought to show you: and we have +been talking about it all the way. We have +not discovered any new <i>tools</i> among the animals, +but we think we have found out a <i>trade</i> +that some of them work at; and we wish you +to tell us if we are right."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that I will do, with pleasure, if I can. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +What is the trade that you think you have +discovered?"</p> + +<p>"It is paper-making, Uncle Philip. We +have found this part of a wasp's nest, which +we have brought along; and as you told us +it was always best to notice every thing +closely, we examined this, and it appeared so +much like coarse paper that we thought (for +we knew it was made by wasps) that man did +not make the first paper in the world."</p> + +<p>"Well, boys, that was not a bad thought. +Now you see the advantage of taking notice +of things, and of thinking about what you +see. You are perfectly right in supposing +that wasps make paper; and, if you please, we +will talk this morning about the wasps."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, yes, by all means, Uncle Philip; +and we will thank you, too."</p> + +<p>"I must first tell you, then, that of the +wasps there are several kinds. Some build +their nests under ground, and some hang +theirs in the air to the limb of a tree. This +part of a nest which you have found belonged +to the last kind; but I will tell you +something about both. But before I begin let +me get some drawings I have, which will help +us to understand better. I have them. And +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +now, of the wasps which build under ground. +As soon as the warm season begins, the first +care of the mother-wasp is to look for a fit +place in which to build; and in the spring of +the year she may very often be seen flying +about a hole in the bank of a ditch, and looking +into it. These holes which she examines +are the old houses of field-mice or moles, and +some persons have thought, what I expect is +true, that she likes to take such old holes, because +they save her a great deal of hard work. +But still, as the holes are not large enough for +her use, she has a great deal of labour to +make them do. So she goes at once to work, +digging in the hole she has chosen, and +makes a winding, zigzag gallery, about two +feet long, and about an inch in width. She +digs out the earth, and carries it out, or +pushes it out behind her as she goes on. +This gallery ends in a large chamber or hole +from one to two feet across when it is done: +and now she is ready to begin her nest."</p> + +<p>"Now then, Uncle Philip, she will begin to +make paper, will she not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but here I ought to tell you that it +was a long time before men found out what +she made it of. Do you remember my telling +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +you of a gentleman who watched the +little cloak-maker to see how he made his +garment? Well, this gentleman, whose name +was Reaumur, was trying for twenty years, +he says, to find out how the wasp made +paper, before he succeeded. At last, one day, +he saw a female wasp alight on the sash of +his window and begin to gnaw the wood; he +watched her, and saw that she pulled off from +the wood fibre after fibre, about the tenth part +of an inch long, and not so large as a hair. +She gathered these up into a knot with her +feet, and then flew to another part of the sash, +and went to work, stripping off more fibres or +threads, and putting them to the bundle she +had already. At last he caught her, to examine +the bundle, and found that its colour +was exactly like that of a wasp's nest; but +the little ball was dry; she had not yet +wetted it to make a pulp of it which could +be spread out. He noticed another thing, +that this bundle was not at all like wood +gnawed by other insects; it was not sawdust, +but threads of some little length bruised into +lint. He then set to work himself with his +penknife, and very soon scraped and bruised +some of the wood of the same window-sash, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +so as to make a little ball exactly like the +wasp's. Mr. Reaumur thought that this was +the stuff out of which the wasp made paper, and +it has since been found out that he was right. +The animal wets its little bundle of bruised +wooden fibres or threads with a kind of glue +that it has, and this makes it stick together +like pulp or paste; and while it is soft, the +wasp walks backwards, and spreads it out +with her feet and her tongue, until she has +made it almost as thin as the thinnest paper. +With this she lines the top of the hole in +which she is going to build her nest, for she +always begins at the top. But this is so thin +that it would be too weak to keep the dirt +from falling in; and therefore she goes on +spreading her papers one upon the other +until she has made the wall nearly two inches +thick. These pieces are not laid exactly flat +on each other like two pieces of pasteboard, +but with little open spaces between, being +joined at the edges only. This is the ceiling; +and when it is finished she begins to build +what may be called the highest floor of the +nest; this she makes of the same paper in a +great number of little cells all joined together +at the sides; and instead of fastening this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +floor to the sides of the nest, she hangs it to +the ceiling by rods made also out of this +paper: these rods are small in the middle, +and grow larger towards the ends, so as to be +stronger. Here is a drawing of one.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_050.jpg" id="i_050.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_050.jpg" + alt="Rods from which the Floors are suspended" /> + <div class="caption">The Cut represents one of the Rods from which + the Floors are suspended.</div> +</div> + +<p>She then makes a second floor, and hangs +it under the first by rods as before; and the +whole of it, when finished, if it should be cut +straight through the middle, would appear +something like the following picture of one +which I made some years ago."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_051.jpg" id="i_051.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_051.jpg" + alt="Section of Social-Wasp's Nest" /> + <div class="caption"><i>Section of the Social-Wasp's Nest.</i>—<i>aa</i>, + the outer wall; <i>b</i>, <i>cc</i>, five small terraces of cells for the + neuter wasps; <i>dd</i>, <i>ee</i>, three rows of large cells for the males + and females.</div> +</div> + +<p>"This is a very ingenious little paper-maker. +Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, it is so. This of which I +have been telling you is the ground-wasp. +The tree-wasp makes its nest of paper prepared +in the same way; and the nests are +of different shapes. One makes it in a round +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +flattened ball, not much larger than a rose, +and when cut open it shows layer upon layer +of leaves of the same thin grayish-looking +paper. This kind is not so common, however. +Here is one of their nests.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_052.jpg" id="i_052.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_052.jpg" + alt="Wasp's Nest" /> + <div class="caption">Wasp's Nest.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Another makes its nest of cells placed in +separate floors, but without any outer wall to +keep off the rain; and the most curious thing +in this nest is, that it is not placed in a horizontal +way; that is, it is not placed with the +floors level, because then the cells would catch +the rain, and the nest would be spoiled; but +it is always placed slanting, so that the rain +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +may run off. It is always placed, too, so as +to face the north or the west, and I suppose it +is because the wasp knows that it is in more +danger of rain from the south and the east. +Here is a nest of this kind."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_053.jpg" id="i_053.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_053.jpg" + alt="Wasp's cells" /> + <div class="caption">Wasp's Cells attached to a branch.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Ah, Uncle Philip! this must be a kind +of lazy wasp. It does not choose to take the +trouble to cover up the house, and so it hangs +it slanting, to make the rain run off."</p> + +<p>"It may be so, boys; but I think that in +making this wasp lazy, you make it a very +sensible wasp; else how should it know that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +water would run down a slanting surface? +But I cannot believe that it is so lazy; for, +though it does not cover up the whole house +in a paper shell, yet it does what no other +wasp does, it covers its nest with a complete +coat of shining, water-proof varnish, to prevent +the rain from soaking into the cells. +And putting on this varnish, I can tell +you, is no trifling work. It forms a pretty +large part of the labour of the whole swarm +belonging to the nest; and sometimes you +may see some of them at work for hours at a +time, spreading it on with their tongues. No, +my lads, he who wants an example of laziness, +will not find it among the wasps.</p> + +<p>"But let us come back to the paper. Hornets +make paper for their nests much in the +same manner as the wasps do, only it is +coarser. There is, however, one kind of wasp +which makes a sort of paper more curious +than this which you have found. It is not a +wasp found in this country at all. It is the +Cayenne wasp, and so smooth, strong, and +white is the outside of his nest that it appears +like a card, and he is for that reason sometimes +called the card-maker wasp. He hangs +his nest on the branch of a tree, and it is so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +hard and polished on the outside that the rain +rolls off from it, as if it were glass. A little hole +in the lower end is left for the animal to pass +in and out; and in this picture of it, which I +have, a piece is left out of the side to show +how the cells within are fixed."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_055.jpg" id="i_055.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_055.jpg" + alt="Nest of the Card-maker Wasp" /> + <div class="caption">Nest of the Card-maker Wasp, with part removed to show the + arrangement of the Cells.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Well, then, Uncle Philip, we were right in +thinking that wasps were the first paper-makers; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +and very glad we are that we saw +this old piece of a wasp's nest. Who would +have thought that so much could be learned +by picking up this old scrap of a wasp's +work!"</p> + +<p>"Very good sense, boys, in that thought. +A wise man will learn something from almost +any thing. Use your eyes, and think of what +you see. Now in this very trade of paper-making. +I think that man would have found +it out a great deal sooner if he had watched +the wasps at their work. They have been +excellent workmen at this business from the beginning; +and man has gone on learning little +by little of this very trade, as I will tell you at +some other time, when he might have made a +long step at once, had he but noticed wasps +and hornets. We go on very slowly sometimes +in learning to make a trade as perfect +as it can be: the poor animal, with its knowledge +such as God gave it, is often our superior. +These dumb creatures cannot teach us +every thing; there is a point to which they +can go, and no further: but as far as they do +know, their knowledge is perfect; and I make +no doubt that a great many useful things not +now known will hereafter be found out by +watching dumb animals."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_V" id="CONVERSATION_V"></a>CONVERSATION V.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children a Story about +Tom Smith; and of Bees with Brushes +and Baskets, and of a Bird with a Chisel, +and a Gnat with a Lancet.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Uncle Philip</span>, as the day is fine, instead +of sitting here, will you walk with us, this +morning?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys; let me get my cane and hat, +and we will take a ramble; perhaps we may +see something, if we will use our eyes. +Where do you wish to go?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we do not care much, if you are with +us, which way we walk; any course will be +pleasant."</p> + +<p>"Come on, then; we will cross the river, +and go down on the other side beyond the old +mill, where you found the wasp's paper. And +now, such of you as will, may keep a look-out +for curious things, while the rest of us will +talk together.—Boys, do any of you know +Tom Smith?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +"Know him! Why, Uncle Philip, everybody +in this part of the country knows him; +he is such a shocking drunkard, and swears +so horribly, that nobody can forget him; and +what makes it worse, he is an old man, too. +His hair is almost as white as yours, Uncle +Philip."</p> + +<p>"Yes; he is just about my age. We were +both born here, and I have known him ever +since we were boys; and when we played together +as children, over this very field which +we are now crossing, or caught fish in the +river down yonder by the rocks, there was not +a more decent, well-behaved, handsome boy +among us than was Tom Smith. Poor Tom +lost his father when he was about twelve years +old, and his mother, having no other child, +indulged him, until he was sent to the city to +go into a store. But Tom then, boys, had +good principles; he neither swore nor got +drunk. In a little time he fell into bad company, +and they led him astray by degrees. +He was so good-natured (as they call it), boys, +that he had never the firmness to say <i>no</i> to +the proposals of his companions. He went +with them to places of amusement; and instead +of spending his evenings in his own +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +room, reading, he was at the theatre, or dancing +in some place, or at a supper with his young +companions; and finally he began to play +cards and billiards with them; while the inside +of the church was a place which he never +saw. He was cheated by his companions; +and too honest he was then not to pay what +he lost by gaming: he wrote to his poor +mother, and told her the truth, as to his losses, +and she sent him money to pay his debts, and +told him to come home. He did come home; +and even after all that had happened, poor +Tom might have been respectable and happy; +for his friends were all willing to forget the +past, and encourage him for the future. For +a time he went on pretty well, and married +an affectionate and good young woman, and +his prospects were bright enough: but one +thing, boys—one single thing, ruined his comfort +for ever. In the city he had learned <i>to drink +strong liquors</i>.</p> + +<p>"I remember, too, soon after he came +home and married, that a man was hung +not far from here for murdering his wife. +The man was a drunkard, though he was +quite sober when he killed the poor woman; +and drunkenness had hardened his heart. +I have no doubt, as it will the heart of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +any man. Tom was talking to me about that +man, and I remember he said then that when +a man <i>began</i> to drink, he could never say +where it would end, nor what he would do: +'therefore,' said Tom, 'beware of the <i>first</i> +drink.' But Tom, though he talked like a +Christian and a man about it, did not act like +one: for it was not long before he began to follow +his bad habit, and he soon killed his poor +mother; for she died of grief and sorrow, I think. +His excellent wife speedily followed her to the +grave; and Tom Smith left the village, a +perfect vagabond, whom no one cared for. +Where he went, or what he did for a long +time, no person here knows. I went to other +countries, and neither heard of nor saw Tom +Smith until my return home, when I found +him wandering about here, a gray-headed +swearer and drunkard. He did not know me, +and I never should have known him, had not +some one told me who he was. And last night +I received a letter from one of my nephews +in the city, which informed me that Tom +Smith had been tried in the court, and found +guilty of stealing, and was sent to the state +prison for ten years to hard work. There I +suppose he will die for he is now old; and it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +is awful to think of what is then to become +of his soul. Ah, my dear boys! I could not +help thinking, when I read my letter, of what +that man said to me years ago—and I have +told you his story, hoping that you will remember +his words, 'Beware of the <i>first</i> drink.' +The man who does that will never be a +drunkard. And when old Uncle Philip is +laid in the grave, boys, which must be before +many years, remember, as you look upon the +place, that he told you the story of Tom +Smith, and charged you to 'beware of the <i>first</i> +drink.'</p> + +<p>"But here come some of the boys, running +towards us; I suppose they have found something."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Philip! Uncle Philip! Do +come with the boys this way. Under that +fence yonder there are a great many beautiful +wild flowers, and a number of bees are as +busy as they can be about them; pray come +and see them."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will; but not so fast, boys; you +forget that I am an old man, and cannot run +as you do.—So, here are, indeed, a great many +industrious little workmen."</p> + +<p>"What are they doing, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"These are <i>workers</i> among the bees, and +they are gathering the dust out of the flowers, +to work it up into what is commonly called +bee-bread. More tools here, boys!"</p> + +<p>"Tools, Uncle Philip! Ah, we like that: +pray let us hear of them; what are they?"</p> + +<p>"Why, there is a brush and a basket in the +legs of these little fellows; but they are so +small that you cannot see them without a +microscope."</p> + +<p>"What is a microscope?"</p> + +<p>"It is an instrument, made by fixing glasses +in such a way to look through, that small +things will seem to be very large. Do you +not see how some of these little fellows are +rolling themselves over in the inside of the +flowers, so that the yellow dust is sticking to +them? Now their breasts, and legs, and +many other parts of their bodies are covered +with very short hairs, which catch the dust. +The last joint but one of each leg is made +exactly like a brush, the hairs being longer +there than on any other part; and with these +they brush off the dust, and get it into two +little heaps. The bags into which they put it, +or rather the baskets, are in the thighs of the +last pair of legs. These are hollow, so as to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +form a three-sided basket. The bottom of it +is smooth and shining, and appears like horn, +and all around the edges are placed very +strong, thick-set hairs, like bristles."</p> + +<p>"What are these for?"</p> + +<p>"To keep things from falling out of the +basket; and these bristles are so strong that +even if they heap up more than the basket +will hold, the bristles will keep it from falling. +Here is a drawing of these legs.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_063.jpg" id="i_063.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_063.jpg" + alt="Structure of the legs of the Bee for carrying propolis and pollen" /> + <div class="caption">Structure of the legs of the Bee for carrying propolis + and pollen, magnified.</div> +</div> + +<p>Besides carrying this dust, they also carry +what is called <i>propolis</i>."</p> + +<p>"What is propolis, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"It is a gum which is found upon some +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +trees. This they work up into little balls, +and knead it until it is a little dry, so as not +to stick. This takes the bee sometimes as +much as half an hour. When the balls are +ready, she passes them backwards with her +feet to the basket, puts them in, and gives +them a pat or two to make them lie close; +and when she adds more, she pats it still +harder, and when the basket is full, away she +goes to the hive. But there is another curious +instrument about the bee. I mean its +sting: this is like the head of a barbed or +bearded arrow. There is a sheath for it when +the bee does not wish to use it; and here is a +picture of it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_064.jpg" id="i_064.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_064.jpg" + alt="sting of a Bee" /> + <div class="caption"><i>a</i>, The sting of a Bee, magnified to show the barbed + darts; <i>b</i>, the last ring of the abdomen of a Bee opened, showing the + sting in its sheath.</div> +</div> + +<p>But let us now continue our walk."</p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Philip, it is really very pleasant +to walk with you: it seems as if you met +nothing which could not teach us things +worth knowing."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, my dear boys, there are, as I told +you once before, a great many things which I +do not know; and what I do know I am very +willing to tell you. But you may learn just +as I did,—by reading, by taking notice of +things around you, and by thinking for yourselves. +And I do not know any thing more +pleasant to notice than the works of God. I +see his wisdom and his goodness in every +thing which he has made. I see them in the +insects, and the birds, and the larger animals; +I see them in the grass, and the flowers, and +the trees; and I see them in the rocks and +the stones upon the ground. All these things +are well worth our attention, boys; the study of +all these things around us is called the study +of 'Natural History;' and I think it is apt to +make him who loves it a better man; at any +rate, I believe that there have been very few +who have been fond of it, who have not been +amiable and benevolent men. But, hark! Do +you hear that noise?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Philip; it is the sound of men +chopping wood in that clump of trees."</p> + +<p>"No, boys; it is like the sound of a wood-cutter; +and it is a wood-cutter, but he does +not use one of our hatchets."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is it that he uses, then?"</p> + +<p>"He uses the tool which God gave him. +It is a bird, boys, which you hear: it is the +woodpecker. See, there it is on yonder tree, +and look, at the foot of it, there is something +like a bushel of the bird's chips or dust. +Its bill is a complete chisel; it is straight, +hard, and sharp, with edges too upon the +sides. It is not a very broad chisel, but still it +is one, and used as we use ours. But the +chisel is not the only instrument of that +workman. Its tongue is worth examining. +It bores a hole into a tree that is dead or decaying, +to look for insects whose nests are in +the tree; and when it reaches the cell where +the young insect is, it uses its tongue to get +it out, and it suits exactly for the business. +In the first place, it is so long that the bird +can shoot it out three or four inches longer +than the bill is; in the next place the end of +it is tipped with a stiff, sharp, long thorn; +and in the last place, that thorn has little +teeth on both sides of it, like that which you +see on the point of a fish-hook: these teeth +are to keep the insect from falling off when +it puts its tongue in the hole and sticks its +sharp point into it to draw it out for food. So +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +that besides the chisel, the woodpecker has a +spear, or lance, or arrow, barbed (as it is +called) or bearded at the point.</p> + +<p>"But we are some distance, boys, beyond +the old mill: suppose we now turn back towards +home; I find the gnats rather troublesome."</p> + +<p>"So do we, Uncle Philip; they have been +biting us for some time: it would be well if +there were no such tormenting things in the +world."</p> + +<p>"I am not sure of that, boys. We may not +always be able to find out the exact use of +some of these little animals; but that only +shows that we are ignorant, not that they are +of no use. God would never have made them +if he had not some wise purpose in doing so: +I do not believe he ever wastes his power in +making useless things. But what will you +say about gnats, when I tell you that they have +a tool to work with, and a very perfect one, +too?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we will almost forgive them for +biting us."</p> + +<p>"Biting you! They have not been biting +with teeth: they are doctors, boys; they have +only been bleeding you, and cupping you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And what have they been bleeding us +with?"</p> + +<p>"Why, with a lancet, to be sure; what +should a doctor use but a lancet to let blood?"</p> + +<p>"And has the gnat really a lancet?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it has: this instrument forms a part +of what you may call the tongue of the gnat: +it is made up of five pieces, which are shut up +in a case, split from one end to the other; +these give steadiness to the lancet when it is +used. But the reason of the pain is not so +much the wound of the lancet, as it is the +fluid or poisonous juice which the gnat puts +into the wound to make the blood thin enough +for the insect to suck it up through a tube or +case, which makes part of its mouth. Here +is a drawing of part of a gnat's mouth.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_068.jpg" id="i_068.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_068.jpg" + alt="Part of a gnat's mouth" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>And here is a picture of the lancet or knife +of a horse-fly.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_069.jpg" id="i_069.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_069.jpg" + alt="Lancet of a horse-fly" /> +</div> + +<p>"We have now reached the bridge,—and +here we must part; your homes are in one +direction, and mine is in the opposite. I hope, +however, that you have learned something in +our morning's walk."</p> + +<p>"We have, Uncle Philip, and we thank you +much, and bid you, good day."</p> + +<p>"Good day, boys."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_VI" id="CONVERSATION_VI"></a>CONVERSATION VI.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children about Animals +that can do Mason's Work.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Uncle Philip</span>, we saw a very strange +thing just now; as we were coming, we saw a +great many bees flying by us, and each one +was carrying a little stone."</p> + +<p>"That was strange, indeed. Did you find +out any thing about them?"</p> + +<p>"We asked a man who was near what they +did it for, and he said that they carried the +stones to prevent the wind, which is blowing +pretty fresh, from tossing them about too +much."</p> + +<p>"That is a very silly story, boys, though it +is a very old one: for I have seen them carrying +what you call stones when it was quite +calm, and there was no wind to blow them +away. The man was very ignorant, or he +would have told you another story, which +would have been both strange and true."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Will you have the goodness, Uncle Philip, +to tell us what it meant?"</p> + +<p>"Very willingly, boys. What you saw I +presume were bees. You remember that I +told you there were several kinds of bees; +and this one is called the mason-bee. This +kind builds his nest of mortar, and was therefore +called the mason-bee by Mr. Reaumur +first, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Where does it get the mortar, Uncle +Philip?"</p> + +<p>"It makes it, boys. This kind of bee may +be seen flying about, picking up sand, grain +by grain, putting it into a heap, gluing them +together with a sort of gum out of her own +mouth, and building with them a foundation +for her house. This little workman commonly +builds against the side of a wall between two +bricks where the mortar has fallen out; and +if you should see one of the nests, it appears +exactly like a lump of dry mud which has +been thrown wet upon the wall out of a cart-rut: +but when you examine it closely, you +may see a great many small stones in it, more +than is common in mud: a hundred people, +though, might pass by it, and never think it +was any thing more than a lump of dirt, which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +had been thrown upon the wall when it was +wet, and had afterward dried there. Here is +a picture of one of these nests.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_072a.jpg" id="i_072a.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_072a.jpg" + alt="Exterior wall of Mason-bee's Nest" /> + <div class="caption">Exterior wall of Mason-bee's Nest.</div> +</div> + +<p>You see there is a small hole in it; this leads +to a cell inside about an inch deep, and shaped +exactly like a lady's thimble; the inside of +this cell is polished smooth, and appears like +a wall of plaster, except that it has little yellow +stains upon it. Here is the bee that +makes it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_072b.jpg" id="i_072b.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_072b.jpg" + alt="Mason-bee" /> + <div class="caption">Mason-bee.—Natural size.</div> +</div> + +<p>In making this mortar to build with, the bee +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +will sometimes add earth that is soft to its +grains of sand, and when the lump is about +the size of a small shot, it takes it up and flies +away with it, to work it into the wall."</p> + +<p>"Does it always use sand, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Not always: sometimes it takes wet clay, +and will dig into a bank of clay baked hard +by the sun on the outside, so as to get that +which is wet.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Rennie, a gentleman in England who +is very fond of watching insects, and has found +out a great many curious things about them, +has given an account of some of these bees +which he noticed at work. Every one was +carrying out of a hole in the clay-bank a small +lump of clay; and on catching one of them, he +found that this lump was wetter than the clay +in the hole, so that the bee had moistened it, +and worked it together, to make it stick like +good mortar. These lumps too were larger +than a shot; they were as large as a garden-pea."</p> + +<p>"How long did it take them to work up the +lump?"</p> + +<p>"About half a minute, Mr. Rennie says. +He watched one of these little creatures, and +found that she was building on the inside +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +wall of a coal-house, where the bricks and +mortar were left rough: she was at work between +two of the bricks where the mortar +had fallen out, or where the bee had taken it +out. And the conduct of the bee at her house +was very different from what it was at the +clay-bank. She was not frightened, but went +on working when any one came near the +clay-bank; but at her house she seemed afraid +that it should be found out where it was. +She would alight first on the roof outside, as +if she merely wished to rest herself; and +when she flew into the coal-house she would +not go directly to her nest, but would settle +on a shelf, and sometimes pretend to be +examining a great many places in the wall +between different bricks; and at last, when +she supposed there was no risk, or when there +was nothing to alarm her, she would fly to +her nest, and go to work with all her might +in fixing her piece of clay to the wall."</p> + +<p>"Why did she wish her house not to be +found out, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Rennie supposed it was her instinct: +she had seen probably some of the insects +which would destroy her young, watching her +to see where she was building; and sometimes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +after flying nearly to her nest with a load, she +would turn back and fly towards the clay-bank, +or take a large sweep off in another +direction, and so come to her house.</p> + +<p>"Besides the mason-bee, boys, there is the +mason-wasp, which I have heard some persons +call the <i>dirt-dauber</i>: it is very common, +especially in the southern part of the United +States. It works very much like the mason-bee, +only it is apt to fix its nest under the +eaves of old houses, which I think the mason-bee +never does.</p> + +<p>"There is also another kind of mason-wasp +which will actually break a hard brick. Mr. +Rennie says that he saw one at work on a +brick of a hard yellow kind. Whether the +wasp found a hole in the brick to begin with, +he did not know; but if he did he was hard +at work making it larger: he would break +off a piece as large as a mustard-seed at a +time. Here is a drawing of that kind of +wasp; and the insect is no larger than the +picture.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_075.jpg" id="i_075.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_075.jpg" + alt="Mason-wasp" /> + <div class="caption">Mason-wasp.—Natural size.</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>It seems wonderful that so small an insect +should have so much strength. Here is a +picture of its jaws, seen through a microscope, +so as to appear a great deal larger than they +really are.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_076.jpg" id="i_076.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_076.jpg" + alt="Jaws of Mason-wasp" /> + <div class="caption">Jaws of Mason-wasp.—Greatly magnified.</div> +</div> + +<p>"I do not know, boys, that the masons we +have been talking of, show us any <i>tools</i> like +those with which men who are masons work; +but they show us, at any rate, how to make +mortar by kneading or working it together; +and they certainly show us that we were not +the first who built walls. But there is another +kind of mason who works in stone. +He picks out the stones which are of proper +size, and he fastens them together with mortar +really as men do."</p> + +<p>"Pray tell us of him, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"I will. The insect I mean is the caddis-worm, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +which is to be found sometimes in +ponds, and very often in springs of fresh +water. There are several sorts of them, but +the one I am thinking of now, builds a stone +house to live in. These worms are in the +habit of making a little tube, sometimes of +sand, or shell, or wood, or leaves, or stones, +to live in; and their skill consists in joining +these perfectly, and making them stick together. +But we are talking now of the caddis-worm +that uses stone. What the worm has +to do is to make a tube out of small stones, +that shall have a hollow about as large as a +wheat straw, and be perfectly smooth inside. +This is a pretty hard task—at least it would +be very hard to us. When the stone-mason +wishes a stone of a particular size or shape, +and cannot find it, he takes his hammer and +breaks one until it will suit; but the caddis-worm +has no hammer, and must take the +stones just as it finds them. The little insect +then has to pick out a great many stones +before he gets the right one, because they +have so many little rough points about them +that it is very difficult to get those which will +make the tube perfectly smooth inside. Remember, +too, that the bottom or lower side of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +this stone case has to be pretty nearly smooth, +so that the worm can drag it along on the bottom +of the spring or pond (for it never comes +out of it), and you will see that the picking out +of the stones alone is no trifle. But besides +this, it has to fasten them together with mortar."</p> + +<p>"And can the worm really do this, Uncle +Philip? Will not the water wash the mortar +all away?"</p> + +<p>"It certainly would if it were like common +mortar. It was a long time that men lived +before they found out a mortar that would remain, +and grow hard under water. When +they want to build a wall that is to be under +the water, they use a cement which is called +pozzolana; it is made of lava out of a volcano, +and is water-proof. Our caddis-worm +has a cement too, which is better than pozzolana, +and though it has been tried, it cannot +be melted or dissolved in water. Here is a +drawing of the stone nest of a caddis-worm."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_078.jpg" id="i_078.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_078.jpg" + alt="Stone Nest of Caddis-worm" /> + <div class="caption">Stone Nest of Caddis-worm.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, you said that sometimes +these worms built their nests of other things +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +besides stones; let us hear something of them, +if you please."</p> + +<p>"Very willingly, boys. Some build of +shells: here are pictures of their nests.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_079a.jpg" id="i_079a.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_079a.jpg" + alt="Shell Nests of Caddis-worms" /> + <div class="caption">Shell Nests of Caddis-worms.</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_079b.jpg" id="i_079b.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_079b.jpg" + alt="Reed Nest of Caddis-worm" /> + <div class="caption">Reed Nest of Caddis-worm.</div> +</div> + +<p>Some build of leaves, and others of pieces of +reed or light bark.</p> + +<p>And a curious thing about those which build +of light pieces of bark or reed is this, that they +will make the top-piece come over so as to +hide their heads, and prevent you from seeing +them. Some build of sand; and then as the +house would be so light that the water running +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +from the spring might wash it down and +carry it away, the wonderful little creature +takes care to anchor it by fastening a pretty +large stone to it when it has nearly finished it. +And as the worm anchors it when it is too +light, so it lightens it when it is too heavy, +by fixing a bit of light wood or hollow straw +to it to buoy it up."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_080a.jpg" id="i_080a.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_080a.jpg" + alt="Sand Nest" /> + <div class="caption">Sand Nest, balanced with a Stone.</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_080b.jpg" id="i_080b.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_080b.jpg" + alt="Nest of Caddis-worm" /> + <div class="caption">Nest of Caddis-worm, balanced with Straws.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Well, this is truly a wonderful insect. +Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Truly so indeed, boys. In all these cases +it uses its water-proof cement, and if you break +its house to pieces, and will patiently watch, +you may see it build another. The insect +always lives with its head out of doors, and +its body inside; so that its head is firm and +hard, while its body is soft."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip," said one of the larger boys, +"there is one thing I have been thinking +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +about, as you have been talking: these little +masons have no trowel, but I believe I know +of one animal that uses something like that +tool."</p> + +<p>"Ah! What animal is it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I was reading the other day something +about the beavers building their dams +and their houses, and the book said that they +built their houses of logs first, and then plastered +them with mud, and that they used their +tails for trowels."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to find that you remember +what you read; but I am sorry that your book +did not tell you the truth. There have been +very strange stories told about the beaver; +and these stories have been taken from one +book and printed in another, so that an untrue +account has gone down for a great many +years. The beaver is very ingenious, but is +not quite so much of a mason as you suppose."</p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Philip, will you tell us the +truth about it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, I will, so far as I know it myself. +I have seen these animals, for they were once a +great deal more common in our country than +they are now; and many of the stories told +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +of them are not true. But before I begin, let +me tell you of one book which I think does +tell the plain truth about them; and the truth +is curious enough."</p> + +<p>"What book is it, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"It is a book written on American Natural +History, by Doctor John Godman. I knew +him, boys, and a most excellent man he was. +He is now dead—and he died a Christian. +The book he wrote you will find worth reading, +when you get old enough to understand +it. But now for the beaver.</p> + +<p>"His tail is very broad and flat at the end, +and might be used very well for a trowel; but +when he builds his house he does not cut down +trees, and place them first, and then fill up the +cracks with mud-mortar; but all the sticks +and mud (and stones too when the beaver can +get them), are first mixed up together, and the +beaver builds his house with this from the +very foundation. As soon as he has placed a +lump of this stuff upon the wall, he turns +round and gives it a blow with his flat tail; +and that, boys, is all he does with his tail for +a trowel. Sometimes he slaps his tail upon +the water when he is swimming; and some +persons have supposed that this was done by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +the king, or ruler, to call his workmen. It +may be so, but I do not believe it, because they +almost always dive as soon as they have +slapped the water; and I think it is probably +a part of their motion in diving. In the +autumn they cover the outside of their houses +with mud, and they walk over it as they are +at work, and their tails drag along upon +it; and this I expect made persons first suppose +that they were plastering it, with the +tail for a trowel. When they are caught and +kept, boys, they still keep up this fashion of +slapping with the tail; so that I rather think +it is part of the nature of the animal.</p> + +<p>"At another time, perhaps, I will tell you +more about the beaver; but it is now late, +and I must bid you good morning."</p> + +<p>"Good day, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_VII" id="CONVERSATION_VII"></a>CONVERSATION VII.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip talks to the Children about Animals +that throw Dirt with a Spade; and +about an Animal with a Hook; and about +one that is a Wire-drawer.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Boys</span>, I have some men at work digging +a small ditch for me, and I wish to see them; +will you go with me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes—very gladly, Uncle Philip; for +you will be sure to tell us of something curious +before we come home."</p> + +<p>"Come on, then: yonder are the men at +work; they have been very industrious, I +see."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, look! There is one of +the men putting a bottle to his mouth. Is +that right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, right enough; for the bottle +has nothing but molasses and water in it; +and the man is thirsty, I suppose. I would +not employ him if he brought a bottle of +spirits out with him, for two reasons. In the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +first place, I think that I ought not to encourage +a man who gets drunk, by employing +him; for I would rather give my money to +a sober man who will not spend it for rum and +brandy, but will take care of his family: and, +in the second place, a drunkard would not +work faithfully without being watched all the +time. I never knew a drunkard who was +really and honestly an industrious man."</p> + +<p>"See, Uncle Philip, how strong that man +is; what a large spadeful of dirt he throws +out!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see, boys: do you think that men +had the first spades in the world?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! now you are going to tell us something +about tools among animals: that is +good; we like to hear of that. What animal +is it that has a spade?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, a very common animal indeed in +some parts of our country. The country +people call it a <i>woodchuk</i>, and sometimes a +<i>ground-hog</i>: its right name is the marmot; +and as there are several sorts, ours is called +the Maryland marmot, to distinguish it; but +it is in New-York, Connecticut, New-Jersey. +Pennsylvania, Virginia, and some of the other +states, as well as in Maryland. This is rather +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +a mischievous animal, and does harm to the +clover-fields; but it is in making his house +that he uses his spade."</p> + +<p>"Then he digs his house in the ground. +Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he burrows, or digs his nest in +banks of earth, or on the sides of hills; and +he has sense enough to make the passage to +the inside upwards, instead of downwards, so +that water cannot run in. In digging soft +earth he uses his fore-paws to loosen the dirt, +for his fore-legs are very strong; and if the +ground is hard he will use his teeth too. As +he gets farther in, he throws the dirt with his +fore-paws under his belly, and when he has a +heap gathered, he balances himself on his +fore-feet, and begins to throw it out with his +spades."</p> + +<p>"What are his spades, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"His hinder feet, boys, which are very +broad, and just fit to take up the dirt as a +spade does, and to throw it from him: there +is a skin which grows between the toes of his +hinder feet, so that he can spread them out +when he chooses, like a duck's foot."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, perhaps they are made +so for the sake of <i>swimming</i>; the duck's are."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is a sensible thought, boys. Always +think for yourselves; and when you make a +mistake, try again: everybody is mistaken +sometimes. Let it teach you to be modest +and humble; but do not be afraid to think +again. A person who is always thinking +cannot <i>always</i> think wrong. Now you suppose +the marmot's feet may be made like a +duck's for swimming: let me tell you something +else, and we shall see what you will +think then. The marmot hates a rain as +much as you would if you had no umbrella; +he very seldom even drinks water, and then +only a little; and you cannot drive him into +a stream or pond; he is afraid of it. What +do you think now?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip, we think that he is +no swimmer."</p> + +<p>"Very true, boys: so his feet, then, you +now think, were made for spades, and not for +paddles?"</p> + +<p>"We do. Can you tell us any thing more +about this animal, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes. The burrows or holes of the +marmot run a great distance under ground, +and end in several chambers or rooms, according +to the number that is to live in them. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +They make beds in them of dry leaves, or +grass, or any thing soft and dry which they +can find. They cram their mouths full of it +to carry, when they are making their nests. +As soon as cold weather begins, the animal +goes into his house, and stops up the hole on +the inside; and there he stays till the warm +weather has come again.</p> + +<p>"He is quite a thief at times. I saw one +once which a gentleman had tamed, and he +played about the yard; but every thing that +he could get hold of which was fit to make +his bed of, he was sure to steal, and carry +into his hole under ground. When clothes +were hung out to dry he would take them off +the line, and as soon as any were missed the +washerwoman knew very well where they +were. She kept a long stick with a hook at +the end of it, and with this she drew them out +of the burrow. He soon found out what it +meant, and whenever she used the stick, it +was necessary first to tie him up; for he did +not choose to have his bed spoiled, and would +run to the hole and try to get in, and prevent +the clothes from being drawn out. One day +he stole eight pairs of stockings, a towel, and +a little girl's frock; and he carried them into +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +his burrow as far as six feet from the entrance.</p> + +<p>"But, boys, as we have begun this morning +upon the old subject of tools among animals. +I will tell you of something which, though not +exactly a tool, is a very useful instrument, +and is found belonging to a very common +creature. Did you ever take notice of a +bat?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Uncle Philip, often, as they were +flying about in a room at night, but not +nearer."</p> + +<p>"Then you never saw what I mean, I expect. +Our common bat, boys, has two very +excellent hooks; one on each of what you +call its wings: I say what you call its wings, +because the bat is not really a bird, but a +quadruped; that is, an animal with four feet: +and when it is on the ground, any one may +see that it is a four-footed animal. If a monkey's +paw should be flattened out very much, +it would be something like a bat's paw or +hand. The long finger-bones are just like +the sticks of an umbrella; there is a thin skin +between them, and they stretch it out, so that +the air underneath will keep them up. When +they are on the ground all this is folded up. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +Their hinder feet have five toes, all small, and +ending in sharp claws. On the fore-feet there +is but one finger which the bat can use much, +because the others are like umbrella-sticks, as +I told you; and the end of that one is a hook. +Here is a picture, in which you can see it +plainly.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_090.jpg" id="i_090.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_090.jpg" + alt="Bat foreleg with hook" /> +</div> + +<p>When the bat is on the ground, it is hard +work for it to get along. At first it will reach +forward a little to one side the hooked end of +its fore-leg, and stick it in the ground; then +it draws its hind-legs under its belly, and +raising itself up, just tumbles forward its whole +body. At the next step it stretches out the +other fore-leg, and hooks it, as it did before, +and drawing itself up, tumbles forward again. +The bat does not like a level place, because it +cannot raise itself in the air from it. When +they rest, they hang by the hooks; and here +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +is a drawing of one, resting. In the other +picture which I showed you just now the +bat was flying."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_091.jpg" id="i_091.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_091.jpg" + alt="Bat resting" /> +</div> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, we did not know before that +bats were such curious things; we always +thought that they were birds; but if these +pictures are like them, these hooks are as good +as fish-hooks."</p> + +<p>"The pictures, boys, are very much like +the animal, and the hooks are just as plain +as they seem to be in the drawings. But +how often do you suppose that you have seen +a bat?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, many hundreds of times; for they +are very common."</p> + +<p>"True, boys; and yet you never knew before +that they had hooks about them. Suppose +that everybody had done as you have, +just passed by the bats, without taking notice +of them; I could not have told you then +what strange creatures they are, for no person +would have known any thing about them. +You see, then, that men may have eyes, and +yet not see things; because they will not look +for them. Use your eyes, boys; God made +them to be used."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, bats are such ugly +things! and they can bite, too. We are afraid +of them."</p> + +<p>"Ugly, boys! And what of that? Will +you look at nothing but what is handsome? +If the bat could think and speak, I expect he +would call you very ugly. But it is foolish, +boys, to be afraid of these smaller animals. +There are many creatures which might hurt +you, and I would advise you to keep out of +their way: but it is silly to be afraid of every +poor little insect or animal which you see. I +have seen a large boy cry when he saw a +poor little caterpillar or bug near him. Now +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +there are very few insects, indeed, which can +or will hurt you; and a great many of them +you may watch without touching them at all. +And I think that he is a wicked and cruel boy +who kills every poor bug that he sees, merely +because he is stronger than the bug. It would +be a great deal kinder and wiser in the boy +to notice what the bug was doing, for then he +might learn something worth knowing."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, is it wrong to kill <i>spiders</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Spiders! Why, boys, the spider is one +of the very last of these little creatures that +I should wish to kill. There is not a more +curious little animal in the world, nor one +that will pay a man better for watching its +motions. At some other time I will tell you +all about spiders and ants, for I have noticed +them a great deal: but now, just to show you +how much you would lose if you should kill +all the spiders, I will talk with you about a +tool which man uses, and which he might +have learned to make from a spider."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do tell us; what is it?"</p> + +<p>"The next time you go to Mr. Brown's, the +silversmith, ask him to show you his plate +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +for drawing out wire. Tell him that I told +you to ask him, and he will show it to you. +You will see a flat piece of steel with holes +made through it in regular lines, beginning +with a large size, and growing smaller and +smaller until the last is very small indeed.</p> + +<p>"Now the wire is drawn through these +holes; beginning at the larger ones, and passing +every time through the next smaller one, +it stretches the wire out, until it becomes as +small as the workman wishes it to be.</p> + +<p>"The spider is a wire-drawer, too; for it +has a contrivance to draw out its threads, and +make them smaller or larger, as it pleases. +If you will look at a very large spider, you +can see with your naked eye, just at the end +of its body, four, and sometimes six, little +knobs like teats, with a circle around them. +These are its spinners. Each one of these +small knobs, inside of that circle, is so full +of little holes or tubes, that Mr. Reaumur +(of whom I told you before, you will recollect) +calculated that a place no larger +than the point of a pin had a thousand of +these little holes in it. These holes are +sometimes so very small, that another gentleman, +<a name="FNanchor_8" id="FNanchor_8"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +who looked at spiders through a microscope +very often, thought it would take four +millions of the threads which came through +those holes to make one thread as thick as a +hair of his beard. Here is a picture of a spider +hanging by a thread coming out of its spinner, +or, as it is sometimes called, its spinneret."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_095.jpg" id="i_095.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_095.jpg" + alt="Spider hanging by a thread" /> +</div> + +<p>"Then, Uncle Philip, the spider does not +spin its thread all at once?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, boys. Fine as you see that thread to +be, it is not one single line, but it is made of +many thousands joined together. The spiders +have little bags of gum within their bodies, +near their spinners, and out of these they +draw the threads: when they have come out +about the tenth part of an inch, they join +them all into one with their claws; and they +can shut their spinners when they please, so +as to make the threads longer or shorter; and +they can break them off, too, when they wish."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, we do not see why +there should be so many threads to make up +one."</p> + +<p>"I cannot exactly tell you, boys, why there +are so many; but probably to make the thread +dry quicker, by letting the air touch so many +parts of it: and I expect, too, the thread is +stronger, because we know that in two pieces +of cord of one size, if one is made of several +smaller cords put together, it will be stronger +than the other, which was spun all at once. +The following is a picture of the spider's spinnerets, +and some of the threads as it appears +through the microscope; only you must recollect +that <i>all</i> the threads are not drawn: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +there are a great many more than you see in +the picture."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_097.jpg" id="i_097.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_097.jpg" + alt="Spider's Threads coming from the Spinnerets" /> + <div class="caption">Spider's Threads coming from the Spinnerets.</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_8" id="Footnote_8"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Leuwenhoek. +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_VIII" id="CONVERSATION_VIII"></a>CONVERSATION VIII.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children of a Door, +with a Hinge and Spring to it, made by +a Spider; and shows them Pictures to let +them see the Difference between God's +Work and Man's.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">I was</span> thinking, boys, last night, of what +you said about killing the poor spiders; and +I was sorry that I did not then recollect one +thing about a spider which I could have told +you, and which would have made you like the +poor little creatures better. However, I determined +that when you came to see me again, +it should be the first thing I would tell you, +if you wished to hear it."</p> + +<p>"Wish to hear it! Why, Uncle Philip, +we always wish to hear you tell us of any +thing that you please to talk about. You +have told us of a great many strange things, +about which we knew nothing before; and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +we will thank you to tell us the story about +the spider."</p> + +<p>"Very well, boys; you shall hear it. Pray, +do you not think that it is a piece of difficult +work to make a door to a house, and to make +hinges to hang it with, and to fit it so nicely +that when it is done you cannot see the joints +where the door is shut?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is a piece of very hard work. +Uncle Philip, and it takes the carpenter a long +time to do it; and it is hard work, too, for the +blacksmith to make the hinges. But what +has that to do with the story about the spider?"</p> + +<p>"Patience, boys, patience: you shall know +presently. Never be in too great a hurry: it +is a bad plan. I have always noticed that +those persons who hurried most, went +slowest in the end. Another question I wish +to ask you is this,—do you not think it +was hard work for the first man who ever +made a spring, and put it on a door, to make +it shut itself again when it had been opened?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was so: and the man who does it +now gets well paid for it."</p> + +<p>"Very good, boys. And now what will +you say when I tell you that a poor little spider +did all these things long before man did?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What, Uncle Philip! A spider make a +door with a hinge and a spring to make it +shut itself!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys; a spider. Do you think he +deserves to be killed for doing it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no, no! But pray tell us all about it. +Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"This kind of spider, then, boys, I saw in +Jamaica, and I saw its house, too. It is called +the mason-spider. The nest or house which +I saw was a tube made of very hard clay, +about six inches long, and an inch across, and +was a little bent at one end. The inside of +this tube was lined all the way through with +a kind of soft silky stuff, something like silk-paper, +but stronger, and it was of a yellowish +colour; but the curious part was the door. I +never saw any thing which an insect had +made more strange than that. This door was +round, about as large as a quarter of a dollar, +and was a little hollowed on the upper side +like a saucer; the inside of it was rounded +like the outside of the saucer. It was of the +same stuff with the lining of the nest, and +seemed to be made of more than a dozen +pieces of that lining, put one on the top of another: +it was shaped so, too, that the inside +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +layers or pieces were the broadest, and the +outside ones became smaller and smaller, except +at the hinge, which was about an inch +long. All the pieces in the door were joined +into this hinge, and then the hinge was joined +and worked into the lining in the tube. +That made the hinge the thickest and strongest +part of the whole work. How the spider +made it so, boys, I cannot tell; but so it was, +that this hinge not only was a hinge, but was +so good a spring, that whenever the door was +opened it would shut itself immediately: +and when shut, it fitted so nicely that it was +very difficult to see the place of joining."</p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Philip, this is most wonderful! +But will not the hinge wear out at +last?"</p> + +<p>"Wonderful as it is, boys, it is all true. As +to its wearing out, I cannot tell you; but I +know that a gentleman who had one, said +that his friends were very anxious to see it; +and there were so many of them, that he had +to open the door and let it shut itself many +hundreds of times to satisfy them; and it did +not hurt the spring at all."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, we shall not kill the poor +spiders any more."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A good resolution, boys: only let them +alone, and they will not hurt you. There is +another kind of mason-spider, which I never +saw, but I have read of it. It is found in the +south of France; I did not happen, however, +to meet with one while I was in that beautiful +country. This kind digs a gallery or +hole under ground as much as a foot deep. +She lines it with a sort of silk glued to the +walls, and makes her door, which is round +also, with many layers of mud or earth all +kneaded and bound together with some of +her silk. On the outside, the door is flat and +rough, to make it appear like the dirt around +it, and hide it; on the inside it is shaped like +the inside of the door of the other spider I +have told you about; and all covered with a +coat of fine silk. The threads of this silk are +left long on one side, and fastened to the upper +part of the hole; and these make the +hinge. There is no spring to this; but when +the spider pushes its door open and comes +out, it shuts again by its own weight. If this +door is forced open by any one when the spider +is at home, she will catch hold of it and +pull it in; and sometimes even when it is +half-opened; she will snatch it out of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +hand. Here is a picture which shows the nest +open, and another of it shut; and there is a +drawing of the spider, too.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_103.jpg" id="i_103.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_103.jpg" + alt="Spider's nest" /> + <div class="caption">Illustration: <strong>A</strong>, the Nest shut; + <strong>B</strong>, the Nest open; <strong>C</strong>, the Spider; + <strong>D</strong>, the Eyes, magnified; <strong>E</strong>, <strong>F</strong>, + Parts of the Foot and Claw magnified.</div> +</div> + +<p>A gentleman says, in a book which he wrote +about insects, that he once broke one of these +doors off, to see what the spider would do."</p> + +<p>"And what did she do, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"She made another door; but took very +good care not to put any hinge to it, for fear +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +she should be disturbed again. But when she +thought all danger was gone, she could then put +a hinge to it, you know; and probably she did."</p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Philip, we thank you again +for this account of the spiders, and shall always +look at them hereafter with more pleasure. +Who would have thought that we should ever +find doors and hinges among such little creatures, +and these too so very well made and +fitted!"</p> + +<p>"Why, boys, I have noticed the works of +God very often; and I will now tell you one +thing which I always found. It is this: a piece +of the very best work which man can make +is really coarse when you compare it with the +work of God. The poor spider that we have +talked about, when she makes her door, makes +it to fit perfectly; because in doing that one +thing, God made her to know perfectly how +to do it. The knowledge is God's, boys; but +the work is the spider's: but in making any +thing else, except about her house, the spider +knows nothing."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, you told us once that you +were very fond of watching all sorts of +dumb animals, and we think now that we +know the reason."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is because you see so much of God's +knowledge in them; is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear boys, it is. When I look at +many things which man makes or does, I +think to myself, 'Now this thing is likely to +have a mixture of sense and nonsense in it; +the sense is God's, and the nonsense is man's.' +But when I look at a thing made by one of +the dumb creatures for its own comfort and +safety, like the spider's house, with its door +and hinge, for instance, I say to myself, 'Now +here is the wisdom of God, without any of +man's nonsense.' And yet, boys, men are far +wiser than any other animal in this world."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, you said that a piece +of man's best work was really coarse: some +things must be neat, we should think. Is the +point of a needle coarse? It does not seem so."</p> + +<p>"Boys, you have mentioned the very thing +which was in my mind when I spoke. The +point of the smallest needle is very coarse. +You have heard me talk of the microscope. +I told you it was a set of glasses, so fixed that +when you looked through them, it made small +things appear very large: on some other day, +perhaps, I will let you look through my microscope +for yourselves; but now, I just wish +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +to show you the difference between the work +of God and that of man. Let us go home, +and I will show you some pictures I made, +and you can see in them the difference. Last +winter, you know, was very cold, and there +was a great deal of snow: one day, while the +snow was falling pretty fast, I was obliged to +go out; and as the flakes of snow fell upon +the sleeve of my coat (which was black), I +thought they had a curious shape, and did not +all appear alike; so when I returned home I +caught some of the flakes, and looked at them +through my microscope. They were so beautiful +that I made pictures of them; and as we +have now reached home, just let me step into +my study, and I will bring them to you. Here +they are, boys."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_106.jpg" id="i_106.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_106.jpg" + alt="Snow-flakes" /> + <div class="caption">Snow-flakes, seen through a Microscope.</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Philip! these are very pretty; +they are all so different, too!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, I picked out different ones to +draw: when I was done, I began to look into +my books to find out what others had written +about this thing; and I found that a gentleman +named Dr. Hook had seen more than a +hundred different shapes and sizes of these +flakes. This is <span class="smcap">God's</span> work, boys.</p> + +<p>"Now I have brought you out another picture: +it is the point of a very small needle, +seen through the very same microscope which +showed me the snow-flakes. Just look at it, +boys. This is <i>man's</i> work."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_107.jpg" id="i_107.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_107.jpg" + alt="Point of a very small Needle" /> + <div class="caption">The Point of a very small Needle, seen through the Microscope.</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_IX" id="CONVERSATION_IX"></a>CONVERSATION IX.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Phillip tells the Boys a Story about a +Philosopher and his Kite.—He tells them, +too, about Ants that have Awls, and build +Cities, and Stairs, and Bridges, and many +other things.</i></div> + + +<p>"So, boys, you have come again to see me. +I am very glad of it; for as this is a leisure +day, we shall have time enough to talk: but +what is that you have there? Oh, I see now; +it is a kite."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Philip; it is a French kite that +we have been making, and we have come to +ask you to go out with us this morning and +see us fly it."</p> + +<p>"Very good, boys; I will go. I am an old +man now; but I remember that I was a boy +once, and loved to make a kite sail. It always +makes me happy to see boys and girls playing +about in health, provided they are not wasting +time, and their play is not to do harm +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +to anybody or any thing. So come on; we +will go out upon the green common yonder, +behind the church, and I think we shall have a +grand kite-flying, for the wind is about right.</p> + +<p>"There, boys! up she goes! Let out the +string. I think she behaves very well; there, +she is done pitching about: now she is steady; +see how she mounts. Ah, that is a very +good kite."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, I was reading a book yesterday +which said, 'A philosopher once found +great help from a kite.' What did it mean?"</p> + +<p>"Do you know what a philosopher is?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Philip; a philosopher is the +same thing with a very wise man, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"That is pretty near the meaning. Philosopher +means a person who loves wisdom; +and such a person, you know, will always be +trying to get knowledge; and a person who +is always trying to get knowledge is apt to +be a wise and learned man."</p> + +<p>"Well, how could a kite help a man to get +learning? Did he read the old newspapers it +was made of? I cannot see any other way."</p> + +<p>"But there may be another way without +your seeing it, you know. The philosopher +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +whom your book meant was Dr. Franklin. +Did you ever hear of him?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; he was born in Boston, and was +a printer, and afterward became a very great +man."</p> + +<p>"That is true. He was a man of excellent +sense, who both read and thought a great +deal; and in the war which the people of this +country had with England to get their freedom. +Dr. Franklin's sound sense was of great +use to his countrymen."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, how did the kite help +him?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you. If you take a proper piece +of glass, or sulphur, or sealing-wax, or rosin, +and rub it for some time, and then hold +it near to small bits of thread or paper, the +thread or paper will fly towards the glass or +sealing-wax, and stick to it for a short time. +That which makes them fly to the glass and +stick there, is called <i>electricity</i>. After this +was found out, men went on slowly finding +out more and more, until at last a man named +Hawksbee made a large machine with a glass +barrel, which could be turned around by a handle +like that which you see to a grindstone; +and with this machine (which I will show you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +at some other time) he managed to get a great +deal of this electricity, and it would shoot off +in sparks, which appeared like little lightning.</p> + +<p>"And now, boys, what I am going to tell +you will show you the use of a man's eyes. +Dr. Franklin knew all about the electrical machine, +and was very fond of drawing off the +sparks from it, to see what he could find out +about it. And when he saw it appeared so +much like lightning, and could feel too a +spark strike his hand a smart blow, he began +to think that perhaps it was exactly the same +thing with the lightning which came from the +clouds; so he determined, if he could, to find +out whether it was or not. He was a great +deal troubled for some time to know how he +should get down any of the lightning from +the clouds; until at last, one day, he saw a +boy flying a kite; and that showed him the +way. So he took a large silk handkerchief, +and stretching it upon sticks, soon made his +kite; and not long afterward, when he saw a +black thunder-cloud coming up, he took his +kite and walked out of Philadelphia (where +he then lived) into the fields, and sent his kite +up. He had a string like yours, made of +hemp, and to the end of this he tied an iron +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +key, and then fastening it to the post of a shed +by a silk cord, which he tied to the end of the +hemp string, he got under the shed, and +waited a long time. Now, boys, if he had +been impatient, all his work would have been +of no use. But he even waited, after a very +heavy cloud had passed over his kite without +giving it any of its lightning. At last, when +he was almost ready to give it up and go +home, he saw some loose threads on the hemp +string rise and stand up straight, just as he +knew the electrical machine would make them +do. He directly put his knuckle to the iron +key, and off came the spark, which he knew +at once was exactly like the spark which he +could get from the machine. And so, boys, +he found out what he wished to know; and +this was the way in which the kite helped +the philosopher."</p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Philip, this is really a very +pretty story about Dr. Franklin and his kite. +Was anybody with him?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody but his son; he took him out to +help him raise the kite. But, boys, I see the +other lads are walking on towards the bridge +with our kite; let us follow them, and as we +go, I will tell you of an electric <i>animal</i>."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, we shall be very glad to hear of him."</p> + +<p>"Listen, then. There is a kind of eel, +which when it is touched will give a very +hard blow, just like an electric shock, to the +person who touches it."</p> + +<p>"Is there any spark, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"No, boys; there is no spark,—but the blow +is tremendous. I remember reading of one +of these fish which was caught in a net, and +a foolish sailor would take it up, though he +was told it would hurt him. The fish shocked +him so violently that he fell down in a fit, +and it was a long time before he came to his +senses; and his story was, that the moment +he touched the fish, 'the cold ran swiftly up +his arm into his body, and pierced him to the +heart.' The fish has this power to defend +itself, and to kill other fish for food."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, how do they ever manage +to catch them alive? I should think they +would be shocked to death."</p> + +<p>"I will tell you. A very sensible traveller +and learned man<a name="FNanchor_9" id="FNanchor_9"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> gives an account of the +manner in which they catch them, by a way +called, by the South American Indians, 'fishing +with horses.'"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Fishing with horses! What does that +mean?"</p> + +<p>"The savannas, or large open plains, in +South America have a great many wild horses +and mules running over them. M. Humboldt +says that the Indians caught about thirty of +these, and drove them into the pond where +the electrical eels were. The horses made a +great noise, and stirred up the mud with their +hoofs, and this brought up the eels from the +bottom in a great rage. They were very +large, and looked more like water-snakes than +like eels; and rising to the top of the water, +they crowded under the bellies of the horses +and mules, and began to shock them. The +poor horses would try to get out of the pond; +but the Indians, with spears and long reeds, +would stand around to hinder them from coming +out: some of them, too, would climb +upon the trees around the banks, and get out +upon the branches which were over the pond, +and by crying out aloud, and using their long +reeds, kept the horses in the pond. The eels +would continue to shock them with tremendous +blows, and a great many of the poor +creatures were either stunned or killed, and +would sink. Those not killed would pant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +and raise their heads, while their eyes would +show their pain, and they would try to get +out. The Indians still drove them back, but +some few escaped, and reached the shore, +stumbling at every step, and would stretch +themselves on the bank, tired out, and benumbed +in their limbs by the shocks they +had received. M. Humboldt says that in less +than five minutes after the fight began, two +horses were drowned; and he thought that +the end of it would be, that every horse which +did not get out of the water would be killed: +but at last the eels became tired, and began +to disperse. This is just what the Indians +wish. They know that the eels have spent +so much of their electrical power that they +will need a long rest. It takes them a great +while to get back their strength; so that if, +the next day after such a fight, you send in +more horses, they cannot kill one. When +the eels, tired out in this way, begin to separate, +they will swim to the edge of the pond, +and there the Indians take them with small +harpoons fastened to long cords. When the +cords are dry, the Indian feels no shock in +raising the eel out of the water. In this way +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +M. Humboldt got five, all alive, and very little +hurt. But here we are at the bridge."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, suppose we sit down under +the shade of this tree, and rest."</p> + +<p>"I am willing, boys; but take care of the +damp ground: there is an old piece of timber +that the men have taken out of the bridge, for +I see they have been mending it; we will sit +on that."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, what shall we do with +the kite? shall we draw it down?"</p> + +<p>"Do with it! Why, just tie the end of +your string to that root, and it will take care +of itself in this wind."</p> + +<p>"What a monstrous piece of timber this is. +Uncle Philip! It must have taken a great +many men to move it; and see—there are +some larger ones still in the bridge. It must +be a difficult work to build a bridge."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is so: but there are bridges much +harder to build than our little wooden one +here. Some are built of stone, and it takes +years to finish them. None but a good workman +can plan and build a good stone bridge: +but I know a little fellow that can make as +good a bridge as anybody; and yet no man +ever taught him the trade."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah! now we know what is coming. +You are going to tell us of a dumb animal +that can make a bridge."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am: and a small animal it is, too, +for it is an ant."</p> + +<p>"What sort of an ant is it?"</p> + +<p>"It is called the white ant; and as there is +a great deal that is very curious about this insect. +I think that I had better tell you all about +it at once."</p> + +<p>"Pray do, Uncle Philip; you know you +promised to tell us about ants."</p> + +<p>"True, boys; and I like to keep my promises. +In my story about these ants, I think, if +you attend, you will find more tools; and besides +that, you will hear of a great many +things which man makes, and which show +matters quite as strange as any of which I +have yet told you."</p> + +<p>"What are they, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"They are the building of something like a +city, and bridges, and stairs, and roads, and +tunnels under ground, and—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, let us hear—let us hear! We have +heard nothing equal to this yet."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I begin by telling you that +these insects are very common in Africa, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +and in the East Indies, and are troublesome +enough, for they eat almost every thing but +metal and glass. They love wood, though, +better than any thing else; and they are +so numerous that they destroy it wonderfully +fast. They are very cunning, too; they never +eat the outside of the wood first, but will +work upon the inside, so as to leave the outer +part not thicker than a piece of pasteboard. +But the curious things I meant to tell you +were about their city; so I will go on to that. +When they first begin to build you will see +little hills shaped like a sugar-loaf, and rising +up above the ground about a foot, or a little +more. Here is a picture of them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_118.jpg" id="i_118.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_118.jpg" + alt="Hills shaped like a sugar-loaf" /> +</div> + +<p>The highest of these little hills is always in +the middle; and they go on building more +and more, and making them all higher, still +keeping the tallest one in the centre. When +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +they have made them as high as they wish, +then they fill in the spaces between the tops +of all these sugar-loaf hills, so as to make one +roof over all. Here is a picture of one finished.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_119.jpg" id="i_119.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_119.jpg" + alt="Finished sugar-loaf hill" /> +</div> + +<p>After this is done, they take down nearly all +of the little sugar-loaf hills inside; for they +only wanted them for a scaffold to support the +top while they were building it."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, what is all this built of?"</p> + +<p>"It is built of clay, which the ant makes +almost as hard as stone."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are they strong, Uncle Philip?</p> + +<p>"So strong, boys, that five men may stand +on them; and it is a common thing for the +wild bulls to get upon them and look out, +while the rest of the herd are feeding below."</p> + +<p>"Why, how high are they?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, of different heights; some as many +as five or six feet, others are twelve, and the +largest are as high as twenty feet, and would +easily hold a dozen men."</p> + +<p>"And how large are the ants, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Not above a quarter of an inch high as +they stand. Now, boys, just compare the +size of one of these nests with the size of the +ant that made it; and it is quite as large in proportion +as the city of New-York is when compared +to a man's size; yes, it is a great deal +larger in proportion. These nests are sometimes +five hundred times as high as the ants +which build them: now suppose that men +built their houses five hundred times as high +as themselves, and as large at the foundation +in proportion to their height, what monstrous +buildings they would be! But let me go on. +This outside shell, which I have been telling +you how they make, is nothing but the wall +of the city; the buildings are all inside of +that."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, there is one thing I +have been thinking of which would make it +more like a city still. But I hardly think they +can have that."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Why in a city, you know, where there are +a great many people, there are a great many +trades: some do one thing and some do another +to get money."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is true; and I am glad that you +mentioned it, because it reminds me of one +thing I intended to tell you about these ants. +Now, it would not be reasonable, you know, +to expect the ants to have many different kinds +of business to do, as the people in New-York +have; but still, boys, they are not all alike, +and they do have work of different kinds. +There are in the city of the white ants a king +and a queen, and soldiers, and labourers, or +workmen, and all these are different. Here +are pictures which will show them all to you. +This is the king.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_121.jpg" id="i_121.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_121.jpg" + alt="King of the termites" /> + <div class="caption">King of the Termites.</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<p>At first he has four wings, but soon loses +them. He never grows any larger after he +loses them. The king may be known by his +having two large eyes. Here is the queen. +She is the mother of the whole city; and you +see what a large body she has. It is full of +eggs, and eighty thousand will come from her +in twenty-four hours. She also has two eyes.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_122a.jpg" id="i_122a.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_122a.jpg" + alt="Queen of the termites" /> + <div class="caption">Queen of the Termites.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Here is a soldier: he has a large head, +armed with two hooks, shaped like a crooked +awl, and very sharp.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_122b.jpg" id="i_122b.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_122b.jpg" + alt="Soldier of the termites" /> + <div class="caption">Soldier of the Termites.</div> +</div> + +<p>"For every one of these soldiers there are +about one hundred labourers. The soldiers +do the fighting; and though they are perfectly +blind, they fight well, and are very brave. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +The following is a picture, too, of the soldiers' +awls, seen through the microscope, to show +you how sharp they are.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_123a.jpg" id="i_123a.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_123a.jpg" + alt="Soldier's awl" /> +</div> + +<p>"And here is a picture of the labourer; the +largest part of the city is made up of the labourers,—which +shows us, I think, boys, that +there is more need of working than there is +of fighting.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_123b.jpg" id="i_123b.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_123b.jpg" + alt="Labourer of the Termites" /> + <div class="caption">Labourer of the Termites.</div> +</div> + +<p>This class, like the soldiers, is blind, and +scarcely ever go into the open air; their work +is mostly under ground or in the inside of +wood. Both, however, do come out when +their city is attacked and broken: but I will +tell you of that presently."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_9" id="Footnote_9"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> M. Humboldt. +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_X" id="CONVERSATION_X"></a>CONVERSATION X.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children more about the +White Ants.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Now</span>, boys, as I have told you about the +kinds of different work which these ants do, +we will go on, and I will tell you about the +inside of the city. The first thing to be done +is to build a house for the king and queen. +This is the first house built in the city, and +always stands in the centre, directly under +the point of the roof or top of the outside wall. +It is built nearly on a level with the ground, +and is shaped very much like a long oven, or +the half of an egg split through the long way. +The floor is exactly level, and about an inch +thick; the roof is about the same thickness. +The doors are on a level with the floor, and +just large enough to let one of the labourers +go in."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip, how do the king and +queen ever get out then."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They never do get out, boys; they live in +that house always, and they are not the first +kings and queens who have found that a +palace is sometimes a prison. Just around +this house of the king and queen are other +houses built of clay, arched at the top, and of +different shapes. These are for the servants +or labouring ants, who remove the eggs of the +queen as fast as she discharges them. The +soldiers also live in these houses. Next to +these are the magazines, that is, the houses +where they keep their food, such as dry juices +of trees and gums; and mixed up with these are +the nurseries. These are made by the labourers, +and are different from all the other buildings, +for they are made of wood gnawed or +broken into fine threads, and joined together +with some kind of gum, and around each of +them there is a case of clay. These nurseries +are to carry the eggs into for the young +ants to be hatched. Between all these different +houses or parts there are thousands of +galleries or ways, which run among them and +separate them from each other, and these +may be called the streets of the city. These +streets run in all directions, and extend as far +as the outside wall; and houses are built on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +top of houses, and streets run over streets, +until they reach up as high as two-thirds of +the inside wall. But under the top of their +outside case they always leave a large open +place that is never filled up with houses. And +around this space they will build three or four +large arches, sometimes two or three feet high; +these I suppose are to prevent the houses from +falling in towards the centre of the city, which +is an open space, and on the other side they +are fastened to the outside walls, so that these +houses are very firm."</p> + +<p>"And what is all this made of, Uncle +Philip?"</p> + +<p>"All of clay, except the nurseries, which I +told you were made of wood and gum. Over +the house of the king and queen there is a +sort of flat floor, some distance above it, with +nurseries and magazines between the under +side of it and the top of the queen's house. +This floor will not let the water through it, +so as to wet the palace where the king and +queen live, but will turn it off into large +trenches or gutters under ground, of which +I will speak directly. The bridge I told you +of they build from this floor in the open +space, directly under the top or dome of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +outside wall; it rises up and is joined to some +hole in the side wall of the houses above it."</p> + +<p>"How large is it, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sometimes it is half an inch broad, +a quarter of an inch thick, and ten inches +long; all made of clay, so that it is very strange +how they manage to join it to the wall without +its falling down by its own weight while +they were building it."</p> + +<p>"And what do you suppose this bridge is +for, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I think there can be no doubt what +it is for. When the city has been growing +for some time, some of the nurseries will be +very high up above the queen's house; but the +labourers have to carry her eggs into them, +no matter how far off they may be. If they +carry them through all the streets, they will +have to walk as many as fifteen or twenty +feet, for it would be five or six feet in a perfectly +straight line, and these streets are very +crooked; but if they make a bridge in the +open space in the centre, they can then go +from the queen's house over the bridge, and +get to the upper nurseries without travelling +more than two feet. So they made the bridge +to shorten the way, to be sure."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is very wonderful: but you said something +about large trenches or gutters underground; +what are they, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"These galleries lead from the city under +ground, and are as large as the bore of a large +cannon; they are thirteen inches across, and +more than a hundred yards long. I have +already told you that the labourers never come +out into the light, when they can help it; and +these underground ways are the great roads +to the city, to fetch in clay, or wood, or water, +or provisions: and now I will tell you another +thing which shows a great deal of sense. +As some of their houses are very high up, you +know they would find it very hard to climb +up through all the streets with a heavy load +in a straight line; so when these large ways +underground reach the outside wall, they just +come through and keep on winding around +the inside of it like a corkscrew all the way +to the top; and there are other galleries opening +from it at different places into the city. +One thing has been noticed about these ants; +they can scarcely climb at all up a perpendicular +wall. Therefore on the upright +side of any part of the city you may see a +road made, standing out from the wall like +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +a ledge; it is flat on the top, and half an +inch wide, and goes up gradually like a stair-case, +or like a road cut out on the side of a +mountain.</p> + +<p>"Here is a picture of one of their cities cut +straight down through the middle. At the +bottom, in the centre, is the queen's house; +over it is a floor, and the two crooked things +you see rising up from the floor, are bridges."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_129.jpg" id="i_129.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_129.jpg" + alt="White ants city" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, you said you would tell +us about the soldiers and labourers coming +out when the city is attacked."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did. As soon as a hole is made in +the outside wall, you will see a soldier run +out, and walk about as if to look around; but +as he is blind, it cannot be to see what the +danger is. He may have some way though of +finding out without seeing. Presently he will +go in, as if to tell the others, and then out +pour the soldiers in great numbers, as fast +as the hole will let them; and just as long +as you strike the outside wall, they will +continue to rush out. They seem to be in +a terrible passion. They are in such a hurry +that sometimes they slip, and roll down +the outside of the hill; but they jump up +again instantly, and begin to bite every thing +they run against, for they are blind and cannot +tell a friend from an enemy."</p> + +<p>"Do they bite hard, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Very hard indeed. They make their +hooked jaws, which are like awls, you know, +meet at every bite; and if it should happen to +be a man's leg they get hold of, you would see +upon his stocking a spot of blood an inch long. +At every bite too you may hear their jaws +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +snapping together and making quite a noise. +Some of them too (perhaps they are the officers) +are constantly beating with their awls upon the +outside wall, and make a sound something +quicker and sharper than the ticking of a watch. +You may hear it at a distance of three or +four feet. When these biters lay hold, nothing +will make them let go; you must tear them +away by pieces. After you stop striking the +wall, in about half an hour they seem to get +over their rage and go back into the city, and +then out come the labourers. While the noise +continues you will not see one of them; they +all fled at the first appearance of danger. But +now they come, each one with a bundle of +mortar in his mouth, ready made; and they +stick it on the hole so fast, and with such +order, that though thousands and thousands +are at work they never interrupt each other. +And while the labourers are busy, if you look +you may commonly see a soldier or two walking +about; but they never touch the mortar, +nor help in any way to mend the hole. One +of these soldiers always stands near the spot +where the labourers are at work, and every +now and then turns slowly around, and frequently +lifts up his head, and with his awls +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +beats upon the building, and makes a sort of +hissing noise. As soon as that is done you may +hear a loud hiss from all the labourers, both on +the outside of the wall and from the inside of +the city, and then the labourers run faster, and +work as quick again. If you attack the nest +again, away run all the labourers as fast as +their legs will carry them, and out pour the +soldiers as before; and the same thing is +always seen upon every attack, of soldiers +to fight and labourers to work."</p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Philip, this is a very strange +story; much more interesting than any we +have yet heard."</p> + +<p>"I thought it would please you, boys; but +there are still stranger things among animals, +and perhaps you will say so when you know +more.</p> + +<p>"But it is now time to return home; so take +in the kite and let us be going."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_XI" id="CONVERSATION_XI"></a>CONVERSATION XI.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Children about some +other Ants, that are very good Masons, and +build Walls and Ceilings; and a Story +about a very sensible Ant, which seemed to +think a little.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Good</span> morning, good morning, Uncle Philip; +we have been so much delighted with +the stories about the white ants, that we hope +you have more of the same kind to tell us."</p> + +<p>"Why, as to that matter, boys, I can tell +you much more about ants, for there are many +kinds of them; but I am not sure that I can +show you any of the <i>tools</i> with which they +work, though a large portion of their work +is like that of man; and they have, too, several +customs which our fellow-creatures have. +I can tell you, however, of several other +animals which do use tools shaped like those +used by men, if you would rather hear of +them."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you please, Uncle Philip, we will hear of +them at another time; but now we would rather +have you tell us of the other kinds of ants."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well, boys; it shall be as you +wish. All that I desire is to instruct and +amuse you, and I am sure that the ants can +furnish a good lesson to us. I shall begin +with the mason ants. They always build +their nests either of clay which is damp, and +dug from the inside of their city under ground, +or which has been made wet by the rain; and +a part of their building is always above the +ground, so that you can easily see it. There is +no fixed rule for the ants to build by. Their +cities are not all alike in the inside. Sometimes +the walls are larger and coarser, and the +ways and galleries are higher, than at other +times. The rooms, too, are different in shape +and size, so that this industrious little insect +seems to have sense enough to work in the +best way according to circumstances. There +is only one general rule which they seem to +have, and that is always to build in a number +of different stories, one above the other. If +you examine one of these stories you may +see a number of large places or halls, some +smaller rooms, and some long galleries which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +serve as passage-ways. The tops of these +large halls are covered with an arched ceiling, +and this ceiling is held up, sometimes by little +columns, sometimes by very thin walls, or by +props built against the side walls, just like buttresses. +There are also chambers which have +but one door, which opens into the lower +story, and large open places in the centre of +the nest something like a cross road, and all +these little galleries or streets come into that +open place."</p> + +<p>"Any bridges, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"No, boys; no bridges among these ants, so +far as I know. There will sometimes be as +many as twenty stories above ground in the +ant-hill, and as many below. The best time +to see these little fellows at work is in a gentle +shower of rain, or directly after."</p> + +<p>"Why do they work in the rain, Uncle +Philip?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose, boys, it is because the earth is +then better for them; and one thing that has +been noticed about their work is, that the rain, +when it is not too violent, seems to make it +solid, for these ants have no gum or glue +about them like some other insects, to make +the earth stick together. As soon as the rain +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +begins, if you watch the brown ants, you may +see them come out of the ground in great +numbers; and then running in again, they +will soon return, each one with a little piece +of dirt in his mouth, which he puts down +upon the roof of the nest. A gentleman who +watched them very closely<a name="FNanchor_10" id="FNanchor_10"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> says, that at first +he could not think what this was done for, but +at last he saw little walls begin to rise up +with spaces left between them. In some +places pillars were begun, placed at regular +distances, and he knew that these were to +support ceilings; so he found out that they +were going to build another story to their +house, and they were laying the foundations."</p> + +<p>"How I should have liked to see them. +Uncle Philip. I would not have cared for the +rain."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I see you are fit to be a naturalist. +You know what that word means, do you +not?"</p> + +<p>"It means, Uncle Philip, a man who loves +to study about the animals and insects, does +it not?"</p> + +<p>"It means a man or a woman either, boys, +who loves to study the things in nature no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +matter whether they are animals, or stones, +or grass, or flowers, or any of the things +which God has made. Mark, boys, I said to +study the things, and you said to study <i>about</i> +the things. Now a person may read a great +deal that is interesting and true about all +these things in books; and it is very well to +do so; but I think that the real naturalist +will never be satisfied with books only; he +will be looking to see things for himself. And +I said a woman might be a naturalist, because +some ladies have been fond of natural history, +and have proved themselves to be very good +naturalists. But let us go back to the ants. +Mr. Huber, in the account which he gives of +his having watched these little workmen, +never thought of telling us whether he got +wet or not, because he was too busy to think +or care much about it. He had an opportunity +of seeing what he might never see +again, and a little rain was not to spoil it. +He says that each ant, as it brought out its +little lump of dirt, would place it on the spot +where it wished it to be, and press against it +with its teeth, so as to make it fit closely. It +then rubbed its feelers all over it, and after +that pressed upon it lightly with its fore-feet. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +The walls went on very rapidly, and it often +happened that two little walls, which were to +make a passage or gallery, would be raised +opposite and at a small distance from each +other. When they were about a quarter of +an inch high, the ants would set to work and +cover them with an arched ceiling. After +they had raised all the walls as high as they +wished, on the inside of each wall at the top +they began to put in pieces of wet dirt almost +level, and in such a way as to make a ledge; +and by joining on more dirt to it, it would +meet the ledge made from the opposite wall +so as to make a roof: these roofs over the +galleries were about a quarter of an inch +across. The ceilings over the large halls +were sometimes as much as two inches in +breadth, and to support these they raised +pillars; and beginning in the corner where +two walls joined, they would commence the +ceiling with a ledge, while from the top of +each pillar they would also build out a layer +of earth a little rounded on the top; these +they continued to add to until all met and +made a complete cover for the hall."</p> + +<p>"I wonder it did not fall, Uncle Philip, before +they could join it together."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Huber says that he thought several +times it would fall, from the rain which was +dropping upon it all the time; but he found +that the pieces held together, and that the +rain, instead of hurting it, only made it more +solid. All that it wants, when the ants have +done, is a little heat from the sun to bake it +hard, and then it appears like a piece of solid +dirt. Sometimes, if the rain be violent, the +apartments will be destroyed, especially if the +arches are not built strongly; and when this +happens, the little creatures go to work very +patiently and rebuild them."</p> + +<p>"And how long, Uncle Philip, did it take +the ants to put another story on their house?"</p> + +<p>"Between seven and eight hours; and they +had hardly finished one before they began another, +but they had not time to finish it, for +the rain stopped before they had built much: +however, they kept on, taking advantage of +the wet earth; but a cold drying wind soon +sprang up, and the earth would not stick; so +they stopped: but what do you think they did +with the new story which they had not time +to finish?"</p> + +<p>"What <i>did</i> they do, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Pulled every part of it to pieces, and scattered +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +the dirt here and there over the roof of +the story which they had finished.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you another story about these +ants, boys, which I think is most wonderful, +because it appears so much like reason. +These insects all seem to work separately,—I +mean without attending to the work of others: +of course sometimes the work done by +different ants on opposite sides of the same +gallery or hall will not suit: one wall will be +higher than the other, so that the ceilings will +not meet. Mr. Huber saw just such a case; +the ceiling which was begun from one wall +would just have reached the other wall about +half-way up; and while he was wondering +how the ants would cure the fault, one of +them came, and looking at the work, seemed +to know that it was wrong, and immediately +began by taking down the ceiling from the +lower wall; he then raised it to the same +height with the opposite wall, and made a +new ceiling in Mr. Huber's presence with the +pieces of the old one."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, if that ant did not know +how to think, I am mistaken."</p> + +<p>"I must confess, boys, it does seem very +much like thinking; and if it was not thinking, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +we must at any rate own that it was +something which, <i>in this case</i>, did quite as +well; for no thought of man could have hit +upon a better plan. But if the ant knew how +to think as a man does, do you suppose it would +ever have made the mistake? Would not +the workmen have all agreed beforehand what +they were to do, and how it should be done, +so that there might be no need of pulling +down any of the work because it would not +suit? I think that this story, boys, while it +shows us something like reason in <i>one</i> particular +instance, shows us also that <i>in general</i> +the ant has not reason like ours. But I am +tired now, and can tell you no more this +morning. When you come again I shall be +ready to talk with you about some other kinds +of ants. But before you go, tell me—can any +of you inform me what the Bible says about +the ant?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Uncle Philip: it says, 'Go to the +ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be +wise.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, another question. Have you any +lessons to say when you go into school on +Monday?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Philip; we have."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Have you learned them, boys?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then remember what the Bible says to +the sluggard, and go and learn them at once. +Good-by, children."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Uncle Philip: we will learn our +lessons."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_10" id="Footnote_10"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Mr. Huber the younger. +</div> + +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_XII" id="CONVERSATION_XII"></a>CONVERSATION XII.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Boys about Ants that +go to War and fight Battles; and about +some that are Thieves, and have Slaves.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, my lads, how do you do to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Very well, Uncle Philip, we thank you. +And we wish to let you know that we kept +our promise to learn our lessons. Our teacher +was very well satisfied with every one of us."</p> + +<p>"That is well, boys. I am truly glad to +hear this from you: and I make no doubt +that you also felt a great deal happier than you +would have done had you neglected to learn +your lessons. Did you not?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Uncle Philip, much happier; and +far more cheerful and good-natured."</p> + +<p>"Such are apt to be the feelings, boys, of +those who have done their <i>duty</i>. I am verily +persuaded that there is no such thing as real, +solid happiness in this world, but in that man +who acts from a sense of duty. His is true +peace, because it is 'the peace of God.' I do +not say, boys, that a man, even when he does +his duty, <i>always</i> feels comfortable or happy <i>at +once</i>; but he will be more apt to feel so than +if he did not do his duty: and I do say that +no man who does not act from a sense of duty, +is likely to feel any thing like happiness very +often or very long."</p> + +<p>"Then, Uncle Philip, a man who wishes to +be happy will try in the first place to find out +what his duty is."</p> + +<p>"To be sure, he will; and he need not try +very long either, if he really wishes to know +it. The will of God, boys, is at the bottom of +all our duties; and an honest man, yes, or +boy either, can commonly tell what God will +think to be right or wrong in his conduct. +You know where a great many of our duties +are very plainly written down for us; do you +not?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh yes, sir; in the New Testament, which +tells us of what our Saviour said and did."</p> + +<p>"True. And what our Saviour commanded, +boys, God commanded; for He is +God. But besides this, when it is not exactly +written down in the New Testament what we +should do, still if we will think, we shall very +often find out what to do, from what is +written."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, we almost always know +what you mean; but now, we do not quite +understand you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, boys, for telling me that you +do not know what I mean: always tell any +person who is trying to teach you something, +when you do not understand what is said to +you. Now I will try to make what I said +plainer to you. The New Testament does +not say any thing about your going to school; +does it?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Who sends you to school, boys, and pays +your teachers for instructing you?"</p> + +<p>"Our parents, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Very well. Now suppose that John Carter +here, should wish, instead of going to school, +to do, what I am very sure he never did do: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +suppose he should determine to play the truant. +The Bible does not say a boy shall not +play the truant, does it?"</p> + +<p>"No, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"But if John Carter should play the truant, +he would, in doing so, disobey what God has +commanded in the Bible just as much as if +the Bible did say 'A boy shall not play the +truant;' for the Bible does say, '<i>Children +obey your parents</i>,' and he could not be a +truant without disobeying his parents, who +bade him go to school."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, we understand you very well +now."</p> + +<p>"There is another thing I wish you to understand, +boys. John Carter, as you see, +would not only disobey his parents, which is +wicked, but he would also commit a <i>sin</i> against +God. That is always the thing to look at first. +When we are going to do something that we +are not very sure is right, we should always +stop to ask ourselves whether God will be +pleased with it. But I have said enough to +you about our duty for this time. Now for +the ants I promised to tell you of. And the +first sort I shall mention are great fighters."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Fighters, Uncle Philip! What do they +fight about?"</p> + +<p>"About trifles, boys, just as men do. They +have terrible wars, and will dispute with and +kill each other for a few inches of dirt, when +certainly this world is large enough for them +all. But animals wiser than ants, boys, act +in the same foolish way. Men sometimes +go to war and kill each other to determine +who shall have a river, or a small town, or a +fort, or some little spot of ground; while the +poor creatures who do the fighting, and get +all the wounds, and lose their lives, had they +been let alone, would have lived on in peace, +and never cared a straw who had the miserable +little spot they fight for. But let me go +on with the account of these ants. In the +forests, where the fallow ants live, you may +see these wars. The battle will be between +the ants of different hills, but they are all +ants of the same sort. Thousands and thousands +of them will meet on the ground between +their hills, and the battle begins by two +ants, who seize each other by the claws (or +<i>mandibles</i>, as they are called), and rising up +on their hind-legs, they bring their bodies near +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +together, and spirt a sort of venomous or +poisonous juice upon each other. These will +be followed by thousands of others on both +sides, who seize each other in the same way, +and fight in pairs—ant to ant. Sometimes +they will get so wedged together that they +fall down upon their sides, but they do not +let go on that account; they keep on fighting +in the dust until they rise on their feet again. +Sometimes, too, a third ant will come in, and +joining whichever of them belongs to his +nest, the two will begin to drag the third, +until some of his friends come to his help; +and in this way, others joining on both sides, +they will form strings of six, or eight, or ten +on a side, pulling with all their strength. +And while some are fighting, you will see +others leading off prisoners towards their +hills, while the prisoners are trying to escape. +The field of battle is not more, perhaps, than +three feet square; multitudes of dead ants +covered with venom may be seen upon it, +and there is a very strong scent which comes +from it. When night comes they go off to +their hills. Before dawn the next day they +are at it again in still larger numbers, and +they fight with greater fury than before, until +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +at last one side or the other gives way. They +are so busy that even if you stand near them +they take no notice of you, and not one stops +fighting, or crawls up your legs."</p> + +<p>"Do all of them that belong to the hill go +out to fight, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"No; near the hills all is peace and order, +and work seems to be going on as usual. +Only on the side next to the battle, crowds +may be seen running backwards and forwards +from both hills; some as messengers, I suppose, +and some to fight, or carry back prisoners."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, you said that these ants +were all of one sort; how then do they know +one another so as to tell which party each +one belongs to? I should think that sometimes +they would make a mistake, and fight +a friend instead of an enemy."</p> + +<p>"This, boys, is one of the most wonderful +things concerning them. They are alike in +form, and size, and weapons, and strength; +and sometimes it happens that they do make +a mistake, but it is very seldom; and when +they do, Mr. Huber, who watched one of their +battles, says that they find it out directly, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +caress each other with their feelers, and make +up the difficulty at once.</p> + +<p>"Are you tired, boys, or do you wish to +hear more?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, let us hear more, by all means: we +are not at all tired."</p> + +<p>"I will then tell you of another kind of +ants called legionary ants, and sometimes +amazons; but I am sorry to say that they +are unlike other ants, for they are lazy; and +yet they live very comfortably."</p> + +<p>"How is that, Uncle Philip? Can they +be comfortable without working?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, if they can get others to work +for them; and these have their work mostly +done by their slaves."</p> + +<p>"By their slaves! what are their slaves, and +where did they get them?"</p> + +<p>"As to your first question, boys, their slaves +are ants of another kind; as to the second +question—where they get them—they <i>stole</i> +them when they were young."</p> + +<p>"Why you surprise us, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"I dare say I do. There are persons much +older than you are who have never attended +at all to the doings of insects, who would be +very much astonished by the history of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +legionary ants; and probably would laugh at +the whole account as an idle story; and yet +it is all true, and those who have read and +seen, know it to be true; and they know, too, +that to deny it shows nothing but ignorance. +However, I always let such persons alone. I +can do them no good; for they are apt to be +very conceited, and will not be convinced. +And now for the legionary ant. This is a +fighting ant, as well as the last I mentioned; +and it actually steals the young of another +kind, rears them, and puts all the work on +them, so as to be idle itself. This curious +fact was first found out by Mr. Huber; another +gentleman, named Latreille, afterward +saw the same thing; and now a great many +naturalists know it, because they have sought +for and seen it. The ant which it steals is +of a dark ash colour; the legionary is of +light colour. The dark-coloured ant is +now called the negro ant, and is a very industrious, +peaceable insect, without any sting. +The legionary is a strong, brave ant, with a +sting, but very lazy. I shall relate to you +the account which Mr. Huber gives of the +legionary. He was walking near the city of +Geneva during an afternoon in the summer +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +of 1804, when he saw quite an army of these +legionary ants crossing the road; they passed +through a thick hedge, entered a pasture, and +kept on through the grass without separating; +and Mr. Huber followed them until he saw +them come near a nest of negro ants. Some +of these negro ants seemed to be guarding +the holes into their nest; but as soon as they +saw the legionaries, they, with a great many +more from the inside of the nest, attacked the +thieves. The legionary ants, however, were +too powerful for them, and after a short but +severe fight they conquered the negroes, who +ran into the lower part of their nests. The +legionaries then mounted their ant-hill, some +entered it by the holes already made, and others +began with their teeth to break other holes, +so that all the army might get into the hill. +They went in and remained but a few minutes, +when they came out, each one having +in his mouth a young negro ant, and off they +scampered, without any order among them, +every one going his own way, until Mr. +Huber lost sight of them. The next day he +set out to go back and examine further, and +on his way he found a large ant-hill full of +legionaries, and saw an army start from it, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +which he followed. They made the attack +as before, and each one came off with a young +negro ant in his mouth, and on going back +to their hill, from which Mr. Huber saw +them start, he had an opportunity of seeing +them return, and was very much surprised to +find all around the nest of the legionaries a +great many full-grown negro ants. At first +he thought that perhaps they had gone there +to fight the legionaries, but he soon saw that +instead of fighting, the negro ants went out +to meet the legionaries returning, and would +caress them, and give them food, and finally +take the young negro ants and carry them +within the nest."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, why do the legionaries +always take the young ones?"</p> + +<p>"Because, boys, they know, I suppose, that +the old ants would never be satisfied to remove +from their homes; and therefore they +take the young. These legionaries could work +if they would, I think, but they depend upon +the negro ants for house and home, and food +too; and nothing can be more faithful and +affectionate than these poor slaves are. To +try them, Mr. Huber took thirty of the legionaries, +and put them with some of the larvæ, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +or grubs of their own young, into a glass box +with a thick coat of earth at the bottom of it, +and he put honey also in the box, that they +might not want food. At first the legionaries +paid a little attention to their young; but they +soon stopped; and they neither tried to make +a house, nor took any food, so that in two days +half of them died. Mr. Huber then put in +<i>one</i> negro ant, and this little creature set to +work alone, made a chamber of the earth in +the box, gathered the young together, fed the +old, and put every thing into complete order.</p> + +<p>"At another time Mr. Huber broke one of +the ant-hills of these legionaries, to see how +they would act, and in doing it, he, of course, +altered their galleries and chambers. The legionaries +seemed to be lost, and went wandering +about, without knowing where to go; but +the negro ants appeared to understand very +well where they were: they could find such +of the galleries as were not broken, and would +take up the legionaries in their mouths and +carry them into them. If the negro sometimes +seemed for a short time to be lost, and +not to know where it was, it laid down its +master, ran round and examined until it knew, +and then would come back, and pick up the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +legionary ant, and carry it off. In one case +Mr. Huber saw that the entrance to a gallery +was stopped up by a small lump of earth; the +negro ant laid his master down, took away +the piece of earth, and then carried him in."</p> + +<p>"Why, these poor negro ants are sensible +as well as faithful, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, they are so; and I think it is +likely that both kinds depend in some way +upon each other, but we have not yet found +all about it. I expect that in some things the +legionary does for the negro ant what it could +not do for itself. God has made them necessary +to each other, and this is the reason they +live together so kindly.</p> + +<p>"But I think it is time now to leave the +ants, and go back to our business of seeking +for something like man's inventions and tools +among the lower animals. Perhaps hereafter +I may tell you more about ants; but at present +I must bid you good morning."</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_XIII" id="CONVERSATION_XIII"></a>CONVERSATION XIII.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip and the Boys make a Voyage, +and he tells them of an Animal that makes +itself into a Ship; and of an Insect that +builds a Boat, and floats about in a Canoe; +and of another that pumps Water, and +wears a Mask; and of a Spider that builds +a Raft, and floats upon it.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, boys, I have a most delightful plan +for us to-day."</p> + +<p>"What is it, what is it, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I have a little voyage to make, and +my boat is on the river just above the mill. I +have the men there to row it, and every thing +is ready."</p> + +<p>"Oh! dear Uncle Philip, this is charming! +we shall be so happy! But—but—"</p> + +<p>"But what, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip, we have not asked +leave at home. Now our parents are very +happy to have us visit you, and say that they +are very much obliged to you for telling us so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +many things; but they have told us, too, never +to get into a boat without asking their permission +first. Uncle Philip, we are sure they +will let us go, if they know that you are going; +only let us run home and ask them."</p> + +<p>"My dear boys, I am very much pleased +with your conduct; and, what is far better, +my children, God is pleased; for he has +commanded you to honour your father and +mother: but you need not go home to ask +permission, for you may depend upon it I +would not take one of you upon the water +without the consent of your parents: so I +went yesterday, while you were all at school, +and have got permission from your friends +for every one of you to go—only I asked +them to tell you nothing about it."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, Uncle Philip, you are so very, +very good: thank you, thank you, a thousand +times over."</p> + +<p>"Once is enough, boys. There is but one +Being who deserves a thousand thanks, and +he, in truth, deserves a great many more +than a thousand; but I fear that from a great +many he is just the Being who gets the fewest,—it +is our Heavenly Father: but come +on, boys, let us be going to the boat. We +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +shall soon reach her. Ah, yonder she is; I +see her through the trees."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a beauty she is, Uncle Philip, +with her green sides and white belt near +the top. We shall have a charming voyage."</p> + +<p>"Come, then; get in, my little sailors, and +seat yourselves yonder in the stern. Now we +are all ready; shove off, men, and use your +oars. I will take care of the helm."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Philip, how smoothly we go +along! this is charming. Is this the way a +ship goes, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"A ship floats, boys, just as the boat does; +but she is not rowed with oars; she has sails, +and the wind blowing upon them sends her +along."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, there are no ships among +animals, are there?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no; but there is a very curious little +animal which lives in the water, and manages +to rig out something like a ship, and to +sail."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Uncle Philip? pray let us hear +of it."</p> + +<p>"It is called the nautilus, and I saw a great +many of them in the Mediterranean sea. The +shell is nearly round, and six or eight inches +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +across, not much thicker than paper, and of +a whitish colour: it has, too, a keel or ridge +upon each side. When it wishes to sail, it +stretches upwards two of its legs: these have +a very thin skin at the end, which the nautilus +spreads out for sails, and the other legs +hang over on each side of the shell for oars +or rudders. When the sea is calm, a great +many of them may be seen playing about; +but as soon as a storm arises, or they are disturbed, +they take in their sails and sink to +the bottom. But, boys, the most curious boat +that I know, made by one of the dumb creatures, +is the work of the little insect that +played the doctor the other day, and stuck +his lancet into us. Do you remember what +insect that was?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, very well, Uncle Philip, it was the +gnat."</p> + +<p>"True, boys, it was the gnat, which is an +insect that spends the first part of its life in +the water, and the latter part in the air. +The grub of the gnat lives in water, and I +will give you the whole history of this curious +insect. We will first speak of the eggs, +for out of these it is that the boat is made. +In order to see this boat made, you must go +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +early in the morning, between five and six +o'clock, to a bucket, or pond of stagnant +water, where gnats are to be found: if you +go later you will not see it. The gnat's eggs +are shaped something like a pocket powder-flask, +and it is by putting a great many of +these together that she makes the boat. To +do this, the mother gnat stands by her fore-legs +upon the side of the bucket, or on a +leaf or stick in the pond, and her body is on +a level with the water, and rests upon it, except +the last ring of her tail, which she raises +a little. She then crosses her two hind-legs +in the shape of the letter X, and begins to +put her eggs in that part of the X nearest +to her body. So she brings her legs, crossed +in this way, near to her body, and puts an +egg in the angle, covered with a kind of glue, +which will make the eggs stick together. On +each side of the first egg she puts another in +this shape ⁂, and here is a drawing of the +insect at this part of her work.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_159.jpg" id="i_159.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_159.jpg" + alt="A Gnat making her Boat of Eggs" /> + <div class="caption">A Gnat making her Boat of Eggs.</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She then goes on adding eggs, which are +all put in the water with their ends downwards, +until she has got her boat half-finished; +she then uncrosses her legs, and just keeps +one on each side of the boat as she goes on, +until she has completed it."</p> + +<p>"And how many eggs, Uncle Philip, will +she put together in this way?"</p> + +<p>"From two hundred and fifty to three hundred +and fifty, and when all are laid they +make quite a good boat, sharp, and raised at +both ends, and floating on the water. Then +the mother gnat leaves it. Here is a picture +of one of these boats.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_160.jpg" id="i_160.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_160.jpg" + alt="gnat egg boat" /> +</div> + +<p>"Now I will tell you of what becomes of +the young ones in these eggs. They come +out of the lower part of the egg, and commonly +swim, with their heads downward, +near to the top of the water."</p> + +<p>"With their heads downward, Uncle Philip! +what is that for?"</p> + +<p>"Why, they have a tube at the end of their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +bodies, near the tail, through which they +breathe; and that part must, you know, be at +the top to get air. Besides this, its tail and +its breathing tube both end in a sort of funnel, +made up of hairs placed somewhat in the +form of a star, and covered with oil, so as to +keep off water, and these buoy or float it up. +When it wishes to sink, it just folds up its +funnels, and shuts up in them a little bubble +of air, which it breathes under the water; +and when it wishes to rise, it opens its funnels, +and they float it to the top again. Here is a +drawing which will show it to you.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_161.jpg" id="i_161.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_161.jpg" + alt="Larva of the common Gnat" /> + <div class="caption">Larva of the common Gnat floating in water, greatly magnified. + <i>aa</i>, the body and head of the larva; <i>b</i>, the respiratory apparatus, + situated in the tail; <i>c</i>, the larva, not magnified.</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They are hatched in a few days, and then +the boat of empty eggs floats about until it is +destroyed by the weather. And to show you +how good a boat it is, I will tell you what a +gentleman did to prove it. Mr. Kirby, who is +very fond of natural history, and has written +a great deal about insects, says that he put +half a dozen of these gnat-boats in a tumbler +half full of water, and then poured upon +them a stream from the mouth of a quart +bottle, held up a foot above them, and he could +not sink them. More than that, the water +would not stay in them. If you push one to +the bottom with your finger, it will come +up to the top directly, and you cannot see any +water in it."</p> + +<p>"Why, this is a noble boat, Uncle Philip, +that will never sink."</p> + +<p>"True, boys; but listen, and you will find +that before it can use its wings the gnat has +to sail in another boat still, much more dangerous +than this is. After it is hatched, it has +to pass through several shapes before it gets +to be such an insect as you see. Here is a +picture which will show you its different +shapes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_163.jpg" id="i_163.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_163.jpg" + alt="Gnat shapes" /> +</div> + +<p>"The first is the same which you saw in +the last picture, only in this drawing the head +is uppermost. But its last change, when it +becomes an insect with wings, is the most +curious part of the whole. When it is about +to get its wings, and become a perfect gnat, it +raises its shoulders just above the top of the +water, and its skin cracks, so that the head of +the gnat immediately comes through. The +shoulders come next, and make the crack +larger; but it has yet all its body to get out, +and its legs and wings are as yet all shut up +in its case. Now is the time of danger for +the gnat. It raises itself nearly straight out +of the crack, and by wriggling works its body +along: and if a particle of water should get +upon the case, or touch its wings, it would be +overset, and must perish. Thousands and +thousands die in this way. It is so very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +light, too, that the wind will drive it about, and +whirl it round and round upon the top of the +water; and when it is almost out, the insect +is tossed about in a canoe or boat of the very +weakest sort, while its body is a mast, which +appears much too large for so small a boat. +At last it gets far enough out of the case to +stretch its fore-legs, and put them down +upon the water (which will bear a gnat's +weight), and then it is safe; it spreads its +wings, and soon leaves the little boat which +was so dangerous. Here is a picture of the +gnat getting out of its case."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_164.jpg" id="i_164.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_164.jpg" + alt="Gnat getting out of its case" /> +</div> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Philip, all this is very strange; +we never knew before that the gnat was a +sailor."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that you did not, boys. But as +we are talking of boats, pray can you think of +any way of making a boat move through water +without oars, or paddles, or sails, or something +to pull it along?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No indeed.—Oh yes, Uncle Philip, by +steam."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I mentioned paddles, boys, and a +steamboat is forced along by them."</p> + +<p>"No; Uncle Philip, we do not know."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will tell you then of another way +in which I have no doubt a boat might be +made to move. If there were any contrivance +by which a large quantity of water could be +kept in the boat, and if this water were forced +out of tubes or holes at one end very violently, +it would push against the water in which the +boat was floating, and force her along. Some +years ago a plan was thought of to make a +steam engine throw the water out of the stern +of the boat, and thus to force her along; and +before that, Dr. Franklin tried some schemes +for the same purpose, but they never succeeded. +Now there is an insect which adopts +precisely this plan, and perhaps some of those +who thought of it got the notion from the +insect."</p> + +<p>"What insect is it, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"It is the grub of the dragon-fly. If you +catch one of these grubs and put it into a +saucer of water with some of the dead leaves +or sticks it had for a covering, you will see +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +these leaves or sticks floating towards the tail +of the grub, and afterward driven off again. +This is because the insect is pumping in +water, and then throwing it out. If you take +one of them out of the water, and hold it with +its head down, and let a drop of water fall +upon its tail, it instantly sucks it in, and you +can see it grow larger; and when it throws it +out again it becomes smaller."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, how can you see it +suck the water in?"</p> + +<p>"Very easily, boys. When it is in the +water, if you will colour some other water +with indigo, or ink, or any thing else, and +then hold a glass tube just over the tail of +the insect, and very carefully put some of the +coloured water into the tube, you will soon see +the grub spirt out a stream of it to the distance +of several inches: or if you will put the +insect in a saucer of coloured water, and then +suddenly move it, and put it into one of clean +water, you will see it spirt out the coloured +stream plainer still."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip, it must have a pump +inside of it."</p> + +<p>"It has, boys, something very like one. +This stream of water is forced out to help +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +the insect along; for though it has six feet, it +uses them very little except for catching food. +It drives the water out so strongly against +the still water behind it, that it sends it forward, +with a dart, very rapidly. Here are +two pictures; one shows the pump open, and +the other shows it shut."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_167.jpg" id="i_167.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_167.jpg" + alt="Dragon-fly grub" /> +</div> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, is there any thing else curious +about this insect?"</p> + +<p>"There is, boys, something well worth +attention; did you ever see a mask?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean, Uncle Philip, a face made +of pasteboard, very frightful commonly, which +you can wear over your own face?"</p> + +<p>"That is a mask, boys; but so is any thing +which is made to wear over the face, and hide +it. Now this little insect has a mask, not +made like a man's face, but which completely +hides its mouth, and it is exceedingly curious."</p> + +<p>"How is it made, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Why, boys, I am not sure that I can tell +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +you, so that you will understand me; but I +will try. Suppose your under-lip was horn, +instead of being flesh; and suppose it hung +straight down until it reached the bottom of +your chin, so as to cover the whole of it, and +that at the bottom there was a large three-sided +plate which was hollowed out, and fastened +by a joint or hinge to the bottom of your +long lip, so that it could turn up on the hinge +and cover your face as high up as your nose, +and hide your long lip and your mouth and +part of your cheeks: suppose, too, that at the +upper end of this long face-cover there were +two other pieces, so broad that they would +cover all your nose and your temples, and +could open sidewise like jaws, and show your +nose and mouth, so that when they were +opened they would appear like the blinders to a +horse's bridle; and then suppose that these +jaws, upon their inner edges, were cut into a +great many sharp teeth, which fitted into each +other, and you will have some notion of this +curious mask. Do you think you understand +me?"</p> + +<p>"Why, pretty well, Uncle Philip, we think."</p> + +<p>"Well, boys, here are some pictures, and +with their help I hope what I have been saying +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +will be plain enough. In one picture the +mask is shut; and in the other, one of the jaws, +like a blinder to a bridle, is open. While the +insect is at rest, it keeps the mask over its +face; when it wishes to use it, it unfolds it, +and catches its food, and holds it to its mouth. +A gentleman once saw one of them holding +and eating a large tadpole."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_169.jpg" id="i_169.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_169.jpg" + alt="Dragon-fly mask" /> + <div class="caption">Mask of the Dragon-fly, shut and open.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, this mask is any thing but +handsome."</p> + +<p>"Very true; but you know we agreed when +we were talking about the bats to look at animals +even if they were not handsome. And +there is your poor little ugly insect that you +thought it right to kill, the spider; did you +know that the spider was a sailor, too?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, Uncle Philip! Pray tell us +of it, will you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but wait a little, until we bring the +boat's head right, for we are near the landing-place. +So—now, boys, I am ready. There +is a very large spider, about which not much +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +is yet known, which actually builds a <i>raft</i>, +for the purpose of getting its food more easily. +You may see it sailing about upon the water, +on a ball of weeds about three inches across, +which is held together probably by small silk +cords spun from itself; and the moment it +sees an insect drowning, it leaves the raft, gets +the insect, and then returns to eat it at leisure. +If you frighten it, or it thinks danger is near, +in an instant it is under the raft out of sight."</p> + +<p>"Ah, this is a cunning spider, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Not half so cunning, boys, as the one we +talked of which built a door to its house. +But here we are at land. Jump ashore, my +lads, and give my respects to your fathers and +mothers, when you get home."</p> + +<p>"We will. Good day, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Good day, boys. I shall be glad to see +you next Saturday."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_XIV" id="CONVERSATION_XIV"></a>CONVERSATION XIV.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Boys about an Insect +with Tweezers, and another with Pincers; +and shows them how a Fly's Foot is made, +so as to stick to the Wall.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">How</span> do you do, Uncle Philip, this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Very well, boys, I thank you. You are all +well, I suppose, or I should not see you here."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are all well, thank you, Uncle +Philip. But one of us would be very glad to +have your help."</p> + +<p>"Why, what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Charles Walker has run a splinter into his +hand, and he wishes you to get it out for him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly, I will do that, if I can. Let +me see: but stay—I must first put on my +spectacles. Ah, now I see it; I can get it out, +but I must take my tweezers to it. There, it +is out."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, those tweezers are very +useful. If you had not had them, you could +not have taken hold of the splinter with your +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +fingers; and what would you have done +then?"</p> + +<p>"Tried to cut it out with the point of my +penknife; but the tweezers are better for such +work; and that reminds me, boys, to tell you +that there are insects with tweezers."</p> + +<p>"Why, what tool is it that you cannot find +among them, Uncle Philip? It really seems +as if you found almost every kind among the +lower animals."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no—no, boys. There are a great +many which I cannot find; but there are several, +too, which, as you know, we have discovered."</p> + +<p>"And, Uncle Philip, we suppose that men +learned to make their tools and work at many +of their trades from these dumb creatures."</p> + +<p>"Stay, boys—I never said that, because I +think that it is not true. We know that in +some things men did not learn from the insects, +though they might have done so. +There is paper, for instance. How could men +learn to make it from the wasps, when it was +a thins: in common use a long time before Mr. +Reaumur, of whom I told you, found out how +the wasp made it? So, too, with a great many +tools; men invented them, and afterward, +perhaps, it was found out that insects had instruments +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +like them: and at other times the +insects did show men how to make some +things. I will tell you of one which I think +of just now. The city of London, in England, +is on the river Thames. Some time +since a plan was adopted to make what is +called a tunnel under the river. This tunnel +is a road dug out of the earth, under the bottom +of the river, across it; and of course to +keep the water from pressing in the earth as +fast as it was hollowed out, it was propped up +by walls built on each side, with a very strong +arch at the top. The work has now stopped; +but about half of it was made. In building +this arched road under the water, the workmen +used what they called a shield, to keep +the water from coming through upon them: +and the gentleman who invented it, says that +he first thought of it, from examining a little +animal named Taret, which will bore holes in +large pieces of timber under the water. This +little animal has upon its head a kind of +shield, by which it keeps off the force of the +water, and works without being disturbed. +So here was a case in which the insect taught +the man."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, that gentleman was a sensible +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +man, in the first place to watch the Taret +and examine its head, and in the next place +not to be too proud to learn from it. I expect +he was a naturalist; was he, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know, boys; but I should think +his discovery of the shield would make him +an attentive observer, if he was not so before."</p> + +<p>"Now, Uncle Philip, will you tell us of the +tweezers?"</p> + +<p>"Very willingly, boys. This instrument +or tool belongs to the moths which you see +flying about at times. The tails are covered +with a down, which grows in the form of a +thick brush or tuft, and has a shining silky +gloss, different in colour from the short hair +upon the rest of the body. The moth pulls +off this hair to cover its eggs, and the tweezers +are used for that purpose. Here is a picture +of the moths."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_174.jpg" id="i_174.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_174.jpg" + alt="Females of the brown and gold-tailed Moths" /> + <div class="caption">Females of the brown and gold-tailed Moths, showing the bunch + of down on the tails.</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, you said that the moth pulled +this hair off to cover its eggs; are they easily +frozen?"</p> + +<p>"Not very easily, boys; but you are mistaken +in thinking that the moth covers these +eggs to keep off the cold; for as she lays +them in July and August, and covers them at +that time, it cannot be to keep off the cold."</p> + +<p>"What is it for, then, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"To keep off the summer heat, boys."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip! who ever heard of +covering a thing up in hair or wool to keep +off heat?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard of it, and seen it too, boys. +It may seem strange, but it is true, that down +and wool, and such things, are nearly as good +to protect an animal from very great outward +heat as they are to keep off very severe cold. +When I was at Naples, in Italy, it was summer;—the +climate is a very warm one.—The +country people were in the habit of bringing +snow into the city from Mount Vesuvius, +and every morning I could see them coming +in with their snow, which they sell to the +rich to use for cooling things: and they kept +it from melting with straw and wool. And +in our own country, especially at the south, it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +is very common when a large lump of ice is +brought to the house to be used through the +day in midsummer, to wrap it up in a thick +blanket until it is wanted.</p> + +<p>"But I have not yet told you of the tweezers. +The moth has no jaws, like bees and +wasps, so that it cannot pull off these hairs +as the bee would; but, as I told you, it performs +the work with its tweezers, which are +placed in its tail, and are like the points of a +pair of sugar-tongs. The insects, too, will +use them very rapidly, and pull off a little of +the down, spread the egg upon it, and then +cover it with more down, and smooth it very +neatly. Here are pictures of these tweezers."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_176.jpg" id="i_176.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_176.jpg" + alt="Tweezers of the brown and gold-tailed Moths" /> + <div class="caption">Tweezers of the brown and gold-tailed Moths, magnified.</div> +</div> + +<p>"This is a curious instrument for the insect +to have, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"True, boys, but a very useful one. I will +tell you, however, of another strange thing +concerning moths with their tweezers; I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +mean the way in which they will sometimes +place their eggs. The kind of moth that does +this work is not exactly known, but naturalists +think that the eggs are moth's eggs, because +they are covered with the down, exactly +like those which are known to be moth's eggs. +These eggs are twisted round a branch, like +the thread of a screw, or like the curled end +of a corkscrew put over a small stick. Here +is a picture of some of these eggs."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_177.jpg" id="i_177.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_177.jpg" + alt="Spiral group of Eggs" /> + <div class="caption">Spiral group of Eggs of an unknown Moth.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Ah, this is wonderful work indeed for a +moth, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"As you seem to like this, boys, I will just +mention to you that there is another moth, +called the lackey-moth, which winds its eggs +also around a branch. They are hard, however, +and not covered with any down, and are +put on in the strongest possible way. If men +wish to make an arch of stone, you know that +the stones will be more narrow at the bottom +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +than at the top, so that the bottom of the arch +may make a small circle, and the top a larger +one: thus—</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_178a.jpg" id="i_178a.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_178a.jpg" + alt="Key-stone of an arch" /> + <div class="caption"><strong>A</strong>, Key-stone of an arch; + <strong>B</strong>, Arch completed.</div> +</div> + +<p>Now the moth goes on this principle. Its eggs +are shaped like the bowl of a wine-glass, and +the smaller end is put next to the branch. +They are all glued together, too, with a kind +of gum, which will not dissolve or melt in +water; so that the rain cannot injure them. +Here is a picture of these eggs.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_178b.jpg" id="i_178b.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_178b.jpg" + alt="Eggs of the Lackey-moth" /> + <div class="caption">Eggs of the Lackey-moth, wound spirally round a twig of hawthorn; + natural size, and magnified.</div> +</div> + +<p>"There is another insect, boys, which has +something like tweezers; though I think they +resemble pincers most."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is it, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"The boys call it father long-legs, and I +dare say you have often seen it. It is the +crane-fly, and its pincers are used for putting +its egg in the hole it has made for it."</p> + +<p>"Where does it put its eggs, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_179.jpg" id="i_179.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_179.jpg" + alt="Ovipositor and Eggs of the Crane-fly" /> + <div class="caption">Ovipositor and Eggs of the Crane-fly.</div> +</div> + +<p>"In the earth, boys; and to enable the insect +to do this, the female has the pincers I +spoke of: they are made of something like +horn, and are sharp at the point. With these +she first bores a hole in the ground, and then +puts the egg in. The egg is like a grain of +gunpowder, and she puts herself in a very +curious posture to bore the hole. Here, +boys, you may see a picture of the pincers as +they appear through a microscope, for they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +are not near as large as the picture. And +here is a drawing of one boring."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_180.jpg" id="i_180.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_180.jpg" + alt="Crane-fly ovipositing" /> + <div class="caption">Crane-fly ovipositing, and the larva beneath, in the + earth, feeding upon grass roots.</div> +</div> + +<p>"What good pincers those are, Uncle +Philip: but will you tell us one thing which +we wish to know? Talking about the crane-fly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +has put me in mind of it: the other day +we were sitting together in school, and the +wall over our heads was covered with common +flies; and when we came out, we were +talking about the way in which the fly stuck +to the wall without falling down; and as we +could not tell what kept him up, we agreed +to ask you about it."</p> + +<p>"I will tell you, boys, very willingly. I +do not wonder that you were unable to tell how +the fly stuck to the wall; for you never tried to +find out, and therefore could only guess at it."</p> + +<p>"And that is not a good way to find out +any thing, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"No, boys; though some persons much older +than you are, did nothing but guess about this +very thing, and guessed very far from the truth +too. Some thought that the fly had a sponge +in its foot, and squeezed a sort of glue out of +it which made it stick fast; others said that +the glass or wall was so rough that the fly's +feet would catch hold of the little points upon +it; but both were wrong."</p> + +<p>"How does it hold on, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see what the boys call a +sucker, made of a piece of soft sole leather? +That will show you how the fly's foot sticks +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +fast. This leather is cut round, and has a +string through the centre; the boys wet it, +and then put it upon a board or something +smooth, and stamp on it, and try to raise it +up from the board by the string; and it requires +some strength to pull it up: sometimes +they put it on a small smooth stone, and then +lift up the stone by it. The reason why the +leather sticks so fast is because the air is +pressing on it upon the outside, and there is +very little or no air between it and the board, +to press the other way."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip, is the air heavy?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, boys, when there is so much of it +as there is above the earth, it presses down +very heavily. Now the fly's foot is like the +sucker; when he puts it down he has a contrivance +to drive out the air from under it, so +that there will be little or none between it and +the wall; and then the outer air presses upon +it, and holds it fast."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, how does he get it up +again?"</p> + +<p>"Why, boys, by another contrivance, he +can let air in under his foot again, and then +he can easily move it; for we do not feel the +weight of air when it presses upon both sides +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +of us. The reason why you stand up straight +is because the air is pressing all around you; +if it were on one side of you only, it would +press you down on the other side. Here is a +picture of the fly's foot, as it appears through +the microscope. You will see it has three +suckers with the edges all like saws; these are +to make it stick the closer. This picture, boys, +is sixty-four hundred times as large as the fly's +foot is."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_183.jpg" id="i_183.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_183.jpg" + alt="Fly's foot" /> + <div class="caption">Fly's foot magnified.</div> +</div> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, there is one thing yet +hard to understand."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the fly walks on the wall over our +heads; now the air cannot press down upon +his feet there."</p> + +<p>"Very true, boys: it cannot press <i>down</i>, but +it can and does press <i>up</i> against his feet; for +the air presses up and down and sidewise all +alike."</p> + +<p>"Ah, now it is plain enough, and we are +much obliged to you, Uncle Philip, for telling +us what we wished to know."</p> + +<p>"You are quite welcome, my dear boys, to +all that I can teach you: if it makes you to +be wiser and better men when you grow up, I +shall be very thankful to God that I have +been able to do you any good."</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Good day, boys; I shall expect to see you +all in church to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"We shall be there, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_XV" id="CONVERSATION_XV"></a>CONVERSATION XV.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Boys how Hats are +made; and then talks to them about Animals +that can make Felt like the Hatter.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Boys</span>, do you remember my telling you of +a remarkable bird, called the tailor-bird, which +sews very neatly?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Uncle Philip; it is not easy to +forget such an excellent little workman; but +why do you ask—have you any thing more +to tell us about that bird?"</p> + +<p>"No, boys, not any thing of that bird; but +I was thinking last night of the work done +by several other kinds of birds, some of them +quite as good workmen as our little tailor; +and I thought that, perhaps, you might like to +hear of them."</p> + +<p>"We would, Uncle Philip, be very happy +to hear of them, if you will have the kindness +to tell us about them. But what kind of work +is it they do?"</p> + +<p>"Various kinds, boys. There are some +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +which make what is called <i>felt</i>, just as the +hat-maker does; and some are weavers, others +basket-makers; some build platforms to live +on; and I assure you some birds' nests are as +curious as any of the things of which I have +yet told you."</p> + +<p>"Pray let us hear of them, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Very well, you shall. I will begin with +birds that make felt like the hatter. Do you +know how a hat is made?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, Uncle Philip; but we know +what it is made of."</p> + +<p>"What is it, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Of sheep's wool, and the hair of other +animals: is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, commonly of these things; and to +understand what I am going to tell you, I +think it will be necessary first to say something +about the hatter's trade. The business +of the man who makes a hat is to mix up wool +or hair in such a way that it will stick together +and make felt; or something like a +piece of thick, strong cloth. To do this, he +does not weave the hairs together, for they are +of different kinds, and of different lengths, +and it would be endless work to weave every +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +one in; besides the cloth or felt would not be +thick enough when it was done."</p> + +<p>"How do they stick together then, Uncle +Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Why, boys, their sticking together is +owing to something in the hairs themselves. +I will show you. Pull a hair out of your +head; now hold it just between the ends of +your two fore-fingers, and rub the fingers +gently against each other."</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip! see, the hair is moving +towards my body."</p> + +<p>"Very true; and if you will turn it with +the other end towards you, and rub your +fingers as before, you will see it move from +your body."</p> + +<p>"This is very strange, Uncle Philip: the +hair is smooth; how can my fingers make it +move so?"</p> + +<p>"No, that is a mistake, boys, the hair is +not smooth. If some kinds of coarse hair are +seen through the microscope, each one will +seem to be, not one hair, but ten or twelve +smaller ones, which are joined at the root, and +form a hollow tube, like a straw; and sometimes +it will have joints just like some kinds +of grass or straw. In some sorts of finer hair +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +you cannot see this even with the microscope; +but you can feel it, as you did just now when +you moved your fingers. These joints overlap +one another, just as if you should take +several pieces of straw and stick them into +each other. I will show you some pictures +of hairs as seen through the microscope, and +then these joints will be plain enough."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_188.jpg" id="i_188.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_188.jpg" + alt="Hairs of the bat, the mole, and the mouse" /> + <div class="caption">Hairs of (<i>a</i>) the Bat, (<i>b</i>) the Mole, + and (<i>c</i>) the Mouse.</div> +</div> + +<p>"These are strange-looking hairs, Uncle +Philip."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they are curious; but now you may +see why, when hairs are worked together, they +may be made to stick to each other. These +rough parts catch into each other, and hook +themselves; and the more you press them or +move them, the more closely you work them +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +into one solid mass, which you cannot easily +pull to pieces. Besides, you must remember +that the hairs will work only one way, as you +found out just now when your finger ends +caught upon the little joints and moved them +along. Now, suppose that a very large heap +of hairs, or wool, or fur, after it is made ready, +should be put upon a table, and covered with +a linen cloth, and pressed down in different +directions. Each hair would begin to move +in the direction of its root, just as it did between +your fingers, and so all would be joined +together at last into one solid piece."</p> + +<p>"We understand you, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Then you understand, boys, the way in +which a hat is made. These hairs are all +worked together by the hands of the hat-maker, +and to make them work more easily +(for curled hair, such as wool, does not move +easily) the hatter uses hot water, and dips his +hat in it while he is working it. After it is +done, it is died, and then put upon a wooden +block to give it shape, and is ironed smooth."</p> + +<p>"And this is the way, then, Uncle Philip, +to make hats: it is curious, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys; but plain enough when you +come to examine into it. And the best stuff +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +for the hatters is such hair as has most joints +ready to catch into each other: the rabbit's +hair is very good, and for that reason."</p> + +<p>"And is it possible, Uncle Philip, that any +bird can do such work as this?"</p> + +<p>"Not only possible, boys, but true. There +are several birds very expert at making felt, +and their nest appears like a piece of hatter's +felt, or double-milled woollen cloth. I do not +mean to say that it is as close and solid as the +hat or cloth; it would feel in your fingers +looser than either, still it is quite close; and +when you examine it, you will find it put +together in the same way; it is all carded into +one mass, and not woven together thread by +thread, or hair by hair."</p> + +<p>"And are there many birds able to do such +work, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"I told you, boys, that there were several. +The chief article which they use is wool, but +with this many other things will be found +mixed—sometimes, upon the outside, fine +moss—sometimes pieces of a spider's web rolled +up into a little bundle—sometimes, when cotton +can be had, they will use small bunches of +cotton-wool; but sheep's wool they must have, +and by means of that, they contrive to make, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +with the other things I have mentioned, a felt +wonderfully smooth."</p> + +<p>"Is it smooth on the outside, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes quite so; but always as smooth +on the inside, when it is first made, as if it had +been felted together by the hat-maker. There +is another thing curious enough in some of +these nests. The hatter, you know, binds the +rim of his hat to make it stronger; and some +of these felt-making birds will make their nests +stronger by a binding all around them of dry +grass stems, and sometimes of slender roots, +and they take care to cover these grass stems, +or roots, with their felt-work of moss and +wool. But there is something else not less +strange, I think, than the binding. It is this: +they will build their nests in the fork of a +shrub or tree; and to keep them from falling, +they will work bands of this felt round all the +branches which touch the nest, both below +and at the sides. And those parts of the nest +which touch the large branches are always +thinner than the other parts, which have no +support; in those parts the nest is nothing +but a thin wall of felt, fixed around to fit the +shape of the branch, and that is enough to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +make that part of the nest warm and soft. +Here is a picture of one of these felt-nests, +fastened in the way of which I have been telling +you."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_192.jpg" id="i_192.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_192.jpg" + alt="Chaffinch's Nest" /> + <div class="caption">Chaffinch's Nest on an Elder-tree.</div> +</div> + +<p>"This, boys, is the nest of the chaffinch. +The goldfinch makes a nest of the same kind, +only rather neater and smoother than that of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +the chaffinch; for it takes pains to show +nothing but the wool, and covers up all the +other materials which it uses."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, do these birds all use the +same things to make their nests?"</p> + +<p>"All use wool, boys; but the truth is, that +birds will commonly take for their nests that +article which they can get most easily, if it will +suit. A gentleman, named Bolton, tried this +with some goldfinches. He saw a pair of +these birds beginning to build in his garden; +they had laid the foundation of their nest with +moss, and grass, and such things, as they +commonly use: he scattered some wool about +in different parts of the garden; the birds took +the wool: afterward he scattered cotton; +they took the cotton: on the next day he gave +them some very fine down; they took that, +and finished the nest with it, and a very handsome +nest it was."</p> + +<p>"How long were they in making it, Uncle +Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Three days. The canary-bird, boys, +which you sometimes see in cages, when free, +builds a nest of the same kind. But the most +curious felt-makers among the birds, are in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +Africa. There is the Cape-tit, a bird in the +southern part of Africa, which builds a very +strange nest: it is shaped like a bottle of +India-rubber, as thick as a coarse worsted +stocking, and made of cotton, and down, and +other things felted together. On one side of +the nest there is something like a pocket, and +here is a picture of it."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_194.jpg" id="i_194.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_194.jpg" + alt="Nest of the Cape-tit" /> + <div class="caption">Nest of the Cape-tit, from Sonnerat.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, what is that pocket for?"</p> + +<p>"Why, boys, some have supposed that it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +was for the male bird to sit on and keep watch, +while the female was inside of the nest sitting +on the eggs; but I think this is a mistake. +And some have said, that when the female +leaves the nest, and the male wishes to go too, +he sits in this pocket, and beats against the +side of the nest with his wing until he has +made the edges of the top meet, and thus shuts +up the mouth of the nest, and keeps off insects +and other animals that would eat the young +ones; but I do not believe this story."</p> + +<p>"Then what do you think the pocket is for. +Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"I think, boys, that it is nothing but a +perch, or place for the bird to sit on before +going into the nest. If the bird had no such +place for stopping, it might be troubled to +get into its nest. The mouth is small, and +the bird could not enter it with its wings +spread; and if it should alight on the edge of +the nest constantly, it would injure it, for it is +but slightly made. And I will tell you another +reason why I think this is the use of the +pocket. There is another bird in South +Africa, called the pinc-pinc, which is the same +species of bird as the Cape-tit; and this bird +we know uses its little nest built upon the side +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +of the other merely as a resting-place before +going into the nest."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, does the pinc-pinc build its +nest like a bottle, as the Cape-tit does?"</p> + +<p>"No, boys, not so smooth, but felted in the +same way. The nest is made mostly of the +down of plants, and is either snowy white or +brownish, according to the colour of the down. +On the outside it is a clumsy-looking thing, +but fastened, like the nest of the chaffinch, +very firmly to the branches near it, so that +you cannot take it away without breaking it to +pieces. But rough as the outside is, you would +be astonished, if you were to look at the inside, +and see how a bird, and a small one too, with +nothing but its wings, and tail, and feet, and +bill for tools, could ever have worked the +down of plants together, so as to make of it a +piece of fine cloth. It has a narrow neck, something +like a chimney, at the top of it. This is the +entrance; and at the lower end of it there is +a lump, which appears something like a small +nest stuck on to the larger one; sometimes +there will be three or four of these small-looking +nests, and sometimes when there is a +branch near the mouth of the nest which +makes a good resting-place, there will be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +none. Here is a picture, boys, of the outside +of one of these nests.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_197.jpg" id="i_197.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_197.jpg" + alt="Nest of the Pinc-pinc" /> + <div class="caption">Nest of the Pinc-pinc.</div> +</div> + +<p>These birds are easily +watched; and a French gentleman, who has +written the best account of the birds of Africa, +<a name="FNanchor_11" id="FNanchor_11"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +says that he has found at least a hundred of +these nests, and watched the birds for a whole +morning together, and never saw one sitting +on the small nest as a watch-bird; but +has seen both the male and female arrive at +the nest together, perch upon the nearest +branch, hop from this upon the edge of the +little nest, and then putting their heads into the +hole, dart into the large nest. And now, boys, +what do you think about the use of these +little pockets?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Philip, we think that what you +tell us is always right, because you know a +great deal more than we do."</p> + +<p>"But, boys, you do not understand me. I +may be mistaken, though I do know more +than you. I have been telling you my reasons +for thinking these little pockets are nothing +but perches. Do you think the reasons are +good ones?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Uncle Philip, we do. The +French gentleman who watched the birds so +much would have seen some of them using +the pockets for a place to keep watch in, if +they were made for that."</p> + +<p>"Right, boys. What I wish to teach you +is to think for yourselves. Whenever any +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +one gives you a reason for a thing, just ask +yourselves, 'Is this a good reason?'"</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, how did it happen that +the other people who saw these birds should +have said that these pockets were for the male +bird to sit in and watch?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose, boys, that they really thought +so; but then they had not noticed the birds +enough to find out the truth. It requires a +great deal of time and patience to find out the +truth about animals: and this is the reason +why so many mistakes have been printed +about them. It is a pity that such mistakes +have been made; for really there is enough +that is very curious about them, without +men's making stories to appear strange. But +I think that there will be fewer mistakes +made in future."</p> + +<p>"Why so, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Because, boys, men are taking more pains +to see for themselves. There are more naturalists +now than there were formerly; and I +hope there will be more still, especially in our +own large and beautiful country, where there +have not yet been many. I hope that natural +history will be studied in all our schools before +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +a great while. But let us go back to our +African birds.</p> + +<p>"There is another kind which Mr. Vaillant +speaks of, and I will tell you of that. He calls +it the capocier, and he had a very fine opportunity +to watch two of them. It is a bird +easily made gentle, and he had managed by +feeding two of them to make them so tame +that they would come into his tent and hop +about several times in a day, though he never +had them in a cage. When it became time +for them to build a nest, they staid away for +some time, and would come to the tent once +only in four or five days. At last they began +to come regularly, as before, and Mr. Vaillant +soon found out what they came for. They +had seen upon his table cotton and moss and +flax, which he used to stuff the skins of birds, +and which were always lying there; and the +capociers had come for these things, to build +their nest of them. They would take up +large bunches of them in their bills and fly +away. Mr. Vaillant followed and watched +them to see the nest built, and found them at +work in the corner of a garden, by the side of +a spring, in a large plant which grew under +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +the shade of a tree. They were building in +the fork of the branches, and had laid the +foundation, which was about four inches high +and six inches across. This part was made +of moss and flax, mixed with grass and tufts +of cotton. The next day this gentleman never +left the side of the nest: the female was at +work building, and the male brought the materials. +In the morning the male bird made +twenty-nine journeys to Mr. Vaillant's table +for flax and cotton and moss; and in the afternoon +he made seventeen. He would help +his mate to trample down and press the cotton +with his body, so as to make it into felt. +Whenever he came with a load, he would put +it either upon the edge of the nest or upon +some branch within reach of the female.</p> + +<p>"After he began to help the female at her +work, he would often break off, and begin to +play; and sometimes, as if in mischief, he +would pull down a little of her work. She +would get angry, and peck him with her bill: +but he still continued to vex her, until at +last, to save her work from being pulled down, +she would stop working, and fly off from bush +to bush, to tease him. They would then +make up the quarrel, and she set about her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +work, while he would sing most delightfully +for several minutes. After his song was finished, +he would go to work again, until he +got into a new fit of mischief and frolic, and +then he would torment her as before.</p> + +<p>"On the third day the birds began to build +the walls, after having repeatedly pressed the +bottom, and turned themselves round upon it +in all directions, to make the nest solid. They +first made a plain border all around; this they +trimmed, and on it they piled up tufts of cotton, +which they felted in by beating and pressing +with their breasts and wings; and if any +part stuck out, they worked it in with their +bills, so as to make all perfectly smooth and +firm. And they worked their nest round the +branches near it, just as the chaffinch does.</p> + +<p>"In seven days they finished it. It was as +white as snow, and on the outside it was nine +inches high, and not smooth or regular in its +shape; but in the inside it was shaped exactly +like a hen's egg, with the small end up: the +hollow was five inches high, and between +four and five inches across; and it was so +neatly felted together that it might have been +taken for a piece of fine cloth a little worn; +and so close that you could not take away +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +any part without tearing the nest in pieces. +Here is a picture of the nest, boys, and it is +wonderful work for a small bird."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_203.jpg" id="i_203.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_203.jpg" + alt="Nest of the Capocier" /> + <div class="caption">Nest of the Capocier, from Vaillant's figure.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Philip! we like the capociers +very much. When they were tired of working, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +they were ready to play; and when they +had played enough, they went back to work. +Do not you think there was good sense in +that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, I do: it will not do, either to +work all the time or to play all the time. All +that we have to do is to take care that we +do not spend more time than we should at +either. But there is a sweet little bird, boys, +quite common in our own country, which +makes felt: would you like to hear of it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Uncle Philip. What bird is it?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_204.jpg" id="i_204.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_204.jpg" + alt="Nest of the Humming-bird" /> + <div class="caption">Nest of the Humming-bird.</div> +</div> + +<p>"It is the humming-bird. Here is a drawing +of its nest. It is about an inch deep, and an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +inch across; and from a little distance, appears +more like a small knot upon the branch than +like a bird's nest. The outside of the nest +from which this picture is made, was covered +with a kind of bluish-gray lichen, that grows +in scales upon old trees and fences: this +seemed to be glued on by the bird in some +way or other. The inside was the felt, and +was made of the fine down from seeds that +float about in the air, mixed with the down +from mullein-weed and stalks of fine grass. +This, boys, is the smallest nest made by a +bird, I believe; and some insects make larger +houses for themselves than this bird does.</p> + +<p>"But I have not time at present to talk +with you any longer, as I have letters to +write; and therefore I must bid you good +morning."</p> + +<p>"Farewell, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_11" id="Footnote_11"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> M. Vaillant. +</div> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a name="CONVERSATION_XVI" id="CONVERSATION_XVI"></a>CONVERSATION XVI.</h2> + +<div class="chapsum"><i>Uncle Philip tells the Boys about Birds that +are Weavers; and about the Politician-bird; +and a Story about some Philosophers; +and what may be learned from these Conversations.</i></div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, boys, were you pleased enough +with our last conversation to wish to hear +more about birds' nests?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you please, Uncle Philip. You +said something about birds that were weavers; +we should like to hear something of them."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then; I will talk about the +weavers this morning. And the first thing I +have to say is that this is no uncommon trade +among birds. Take the nest of any of the +common small birds that use hair for a lining, +and you will be apt to find some part of it +woven."</p> + +<p>"But, Uncle Philip, you do not mean that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +birds weave as smoothly and regularly as +people do!"</p> + +<p>"Not quite, boys; but still it is very fair +weaving, and done as our weaving is, by +working a hair or thread in and out between +other hairs and threads, or roots, or bits of stick +and grass. The best way to see it, is to remove +the outside work of hay or roots very +carefully, or to take away the felt-work of +wool or moss, and you may see a round piece +of hair-cloth, sometimes finer, and sometimes +coarser, according to the bird that made it, +and the things of which it is made. In the +common sparrow's nest the hair-cloth is very +thin, so that you can see through it easily; +but still every hair is woven in singly, and +always bent, so as to lie smooth in the bottom +of the nest. And there are no ends of hairs +left sticking out; they are always worked +into the moss which makes the outside of the +nest."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, how do the birds make the +hairs lie smooth in their places?"</p> + +<p>"About that, boys, there is some uncertainty. +Some persons think that the birds +have a kind of glue in their mouths by which +they make them stick; and others suppose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +that they wet the hairs, so as to make them +bend. But there are much better weavers +than the common sparrow. The red-breast +and the yellow-hammer are both better workmen."</p> + +<p>"Where do they get hairs. Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"They find bunches of them sticking in +the cracks of a fence or post where a horse or +cow has been rubbing; and some of these little +creatures, when they find such a bunch, will +pull it to pieces, and work it in, hair by hair."</p> + +<p>"Are there many of these weaver-birds. +Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, a great many: our country is +quite full of them. There is the mountain +ant-catcher,<a name="FNanchor_12" id="FNanchor_12"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> which will weave a nest of dry +grass, and wind the blades round the branches +of a tree; and the king-bird,<a name="FNanchor_13" id="FNanchor_13"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> which first +makes a basket frame-work of slender sticks, +and afterward weaves in wool and tow, and +lines it with hairs and dry grass. There is +another, too, the white-eyed fly-catcher, which +some have called the politician. This bird +builds its nest and hangs it up by the upper +edge of the two sides on a vine. The outside +is made of pieces of rotten wood, threads of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +dry stalks or weeds, pieces of paper, commonly +old newspapers; and all these are +woven together with caterpillar's silk, and +lined with fine dry grass and hair."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Philip, why do they call it the politician? +What is a politician?"</p> + +<p>"What is commonly called a politician, +boys, is a person who is always reading in +newspapers about the government of the +country, and talking a great deal about the +President and Congress, and the laws that are +made, and all such things: but the real politician +is one who studies the different kinds +of government which have been in the world, +and endeavours to find out which is good and +which is bad, and why they are good or bad. +He reads, too, a great deal of history, to learn +how other nations have done, what kind of +laws they made, and why they made them, +how they became great nations, or how they +became very poor; and he <i>thinks</i>, too, a great +deal, that he may find out what will be best +for his own nation. It requires hard study +and thought, boys, to make a good politician."</p> + +<p>"Then, Uncle Philip, a man cannot learn +how to be one out of the newspapers."</p> + +<p>"No, boys; not out of newspapers alone: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +but still he will read them, and very often +learn from them things very useful to him in +his business. Newspapers are valuable things, +and I think it is always best for a country to +have a great many of them spread about in it. +But they will not, of themselves, make a man +a politician; and if you should ask the persons +who print them, whether they expect +them to teach men all about governments, +they will tell you, No: but they will teach +people what is doing in all the governments +in the world. No good government, boys, +will ever be afraid to let the people have +newspapers. They are always fewest where +the government is hardest upon the people. +But let us go back to the birds. Can you tell +me now why some people call the fly-catcher +a politician?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; because he has so many bits of +old newspapers about his nest."</p> + +<p>"That is the reason, boys. There is another +kind of fly-catcher, called the hooded +fly-catcher, and it weaves its nest of flax and +strings pulled from the stalks of hemp: but +the best weaver in this country is the Baltimore +starling. This bird chooses the ends of +high bending branches for his nest, and he +begins in a forked twig, by fastening strong +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +strings of hemp or flax around both branches +of the fork, just as far apart as he means the +width of his nest to be: he then with the same +kind of strings, mixed in with pieces of loose +tow, weaves a strong, firm kind of cloth, which +is like the hatter's felt in appearance, only that +you can see that the nest is woven, not felted. +In this way he makes a pouch, or purse, six +or seven inches deep, and lines it on the inside +with several soft things, which he weaves +into the outside netting, and finishes the +whole with horse-hair. Mr. Wilson describes +one of these nests which he had. He says +that it was round like a cylinder. Do you +know what a cylinder is?"</p> + +<p>"No, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"A smooth round pillar to hold up a porch +is a cylinder; my walking-cane is a cylinder; +so is the straight body of a tree. When these +are of the same size all through their whole +length, they are perfect cylinders; and any +thing in that shape is a cylinder."</p> + +<p>"We understand you, Uncle Philip; a gun-barrel +is a cylinder, and there is a cylinder in +your garden."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"The heavy stone roller that you let us +pull over the walks."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_212.jpg" id="i_212.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i_212.jpg" + alt="Baltimore Starling" /> + <div class="caption">Baltimore Starling, and Nest.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Right. Well, this nest was like a cylinder, +about five inches across, and seven inches long. +At the top the bird had worked a level cover, +so as to leave a hole only two inches and a half +across; at the bottom it was round. It was +made of flax, tow, hemp, hair, and wool, and +was woven into a complete cloth; it was also +tightly sewed through and through with long +horse-hairs, some of which when drawn out +measured two feet. Here is a picture of this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +nest. In the bottom it had bunches of cows' +hair, and these were also sewed down with +horse-hairs. This bird, boys, is a thief."</p> + +<p>"A thief, Uncle Philip! What does it +steal?"</p> + +<p>"When I say it is a thief, boys, I mean that +it takes what does not belong to it: but it is +not a thief as man is. When a man takes +something which belongs to another person, he +<i>knows</i> that it is not his; and therefore he +steals: but the poor bird does not know, and +that makes a difference. You asked me what +it steals: I will tell you. At the time for +building its nest, it will take whatever suits +for that purpose; and therefore the country +women are obliged to watch their thread that +they have put out to bleach: the farmer, too, +who has cut off young grafts from his fruit-trees +and tied them up in bundles, must be +careful, or the bird will pull at the string till +he gets it off; and sometimes, when the bunch +is not too large, he will fly off with the whole. +In autumn, when the leaves have fallen, you +may sometimes see skeins of silk and hanks +of thread hanging about the starling's nest, +but so woven up and entangled in it that they +are good for nothing. Now, boys, before this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +country was settled by people from Europe, +where do you suppose the starling got silk and +thread for his nest?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Uncle Philip, are you sure he got +them at all?"</p> + +<p>"A very sensible question, boys. When +you are asked <i>why</i> a thing is so, it is always +well, first to be satisfied that it is so, before +you begin to look for a reason. I have read +a story about this very thing: would you +like to hear it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Uncle Philip."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I have read that there were +once several philosophers (I told you what a +philosopher is, you know), who were in the +habit of meeting together to put questions to +each other, and to make new discoveries. At +one of these meetings, one of them asked the +others, '<i>Why</i> a fish weighed more <i>in</i> the water +than he did <i>out</i> of it?' Several of them gave +very wise reasons, as they thought; and all +the reasons were different: so they could not +agree. There was among them, however, a +very sensible old gentleman, who listened to +them all, but said nothing. When he went +home, he got a fish and weighed it, out of the +water, and wrote down its weight; he then +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +took a bucket of water, and weighed that; and +when he dropped the fish in the bucket, he +found that it increased the weight of the whole, +precisely as many pounds as the fish had +weighed out of the water; so he found out +that there was no reason why a fish weighed +more in the water than he did out of it, because +it was not true: his weight was the +same either in or out of it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Uncle Philip, that is a pleasant story: +he was a sensible old gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Yes, boys, he was; and it was sensible in +you to ask first whether the starling <i>did use</i> +silk and thread before Europeans came here; +and after that is answered, it is time enough to +ask where he got such things. Now the truth +is, that he <i>did not</i> use them until after Europeans +brought them here; because there +were no such things in this country: for the +Indians who lived here could not make thread. +I think; and I am sure they could not spin +silk: but I will tell you, boys, what it shows +us; and it is that I wish you to notice."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>"It is the wisdom of this bird in taking advantage +of circumstances. No doubt he built +very good nests long before silk and thread +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +were in the country; but he had sense enough +to know that they were exactly what suited +him, and he used them as soon as he could +get them."</p> + +<p>"Then, Uncle Philip, you think that the +bird has reason?"</p> + +<p>"No, boys, I do not: but you have reason, +and I have something to say to you about it. +It is this: as God has given you reason, and +so made you better than the poor dumb animals, +he expects more from you. That is +fair, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Philip; very fair."</p> + +<p>"Then what I wish you to remember is +this: that you must use your reason in such +way as to glorify God. He gave it to you +to learn his will and his commandments, and +to live accordingly. So now you see the +things which our conversations about the +animals can teach us. In the first place, we +see the goodness of God; in the second place, +we see the power of God; in the third place, +we see the wisdom of God: and we see in +ourselves that God has done more for us than +he has done for them, and therefore we ought +to love and serve him: we ought to believe +what he says in his Word; we ought to pray +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +to him for his blessed help; we ought, <i>first of +all</i>, to seek the salvation of our souls, through +our Lord Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear children, to-morrow I must +leave home for a few weeks; but when I come +back we will talk together again: and as I +am going to see my nephews, I will get a +book which they printed about insects; it is +called the History of Insects, +<a name="FNanchor_14" id="FNanchor_14"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a>—and I will +bring it to you; and some of the largest boys +among you may read it aloud, and I will explain +to you what you cannot understand. If +you are pleased with what I have been telling +you, that book will tell you a great deal more."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, Uncle Philip. We shall +like it very much."</p> + +<p>"Farewell, boys."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, dear Uncle Philip."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_12" id="Footnote_12"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> + Myiothera obsoleta of Bonaparte. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_13" id="Footnote_13"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Tyrannus intrepidus. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <a name="Footnote_14" id="Footnote_14"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> + Family Library, No. VIII.—<i>Publishers.</i></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2><a name="THE_END" id="THE_END"></a>THE END.</h2> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<p class="center"><i>Now republishing, on good paper and large type, in 18mo. volumes</i>,</p> +<p class="center margin-top1"><big>SOCIAL EVILS</big><br /> +<small>AND</small><br /> +THEIR REMEDY.</p> + +<p class="center margin-top1">A SERIES OF NARRATIVES TO BE PUBLISHED QUARTERLY.<br /> +<br /> +BY THE<br /> +REV. CHARLES B. TAYLER, M.A.</p> + +<p class="center margin-top1">No. I.<br /> +<strong>THE MECHANIC</strong>.<br /> +<br /> +IS NOW REPUBLISHED, AND FOR SALE BY THE BOOKSELLERS.</p> + +<p class="center">"Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, +which is Jesus Christ."</p> + +<p class="center margin-top1">AUTHOR'S ADDRESS</p> + +<p>No doubt can be felt as to the fact, that there are at present +many crying evils in all ranks of society—perhaps there never +was a time when more remedies were proposed. It is, however, +a melancholy truth, that the only remedy is too generally over-looked, +or despised. Remedies, selfish in principle, and selfish +in their proposed end, are held forth and confided in by those +who profess to be Christians, and, as such, dependent on the +Great Head of the church. Man is taught how to live in time, +and to be wise for time; but it has become unusual to refer to +that fine old scriptural prayer, "So teach us to number our days +that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Indeed, the wisdom +desired by too many is that which is so forcibly described +by an apostle's pen, as "earthly, sensual, devilish;" not that +wisdom the attributes of which form the graces of man's new +and regenerate character, which is first pure, then peaceable, +gentle, and easy to be entreated; "full of mercy and good fruits, +without partiality, and without hypocrisy."</p> + +<p>It is intended, in the series of narratives now advertised, to set +forth, faithfully and simply, the one great principle on which +Christians profess to act. This principle should never be lost +sight of, in any publication addressed by a Christian author to +Christian readers. "Other foundation can no man lay, than that +is laid," laid by Infinite Wisdom himself—"which is Christ +Jesus." My illustrations will extend to every class of society; +from the highest to the lowest. When it is found necessary to +introduce the subject of political economy, I shall endeavour to +give what seem to me the right views of the subject; and I shall +take care to show, that when political economy cannot be identified +with Christian economy, it ought to occupy a subordinate +place. If it enters society as the servant of Christian principle, it +may be very useful as a servant; but, if it is to teach a man to +walk in the counsel of the ungodly, to speak of its usefulness in +a Christian community is absurd.</p> + +<p>False principles, however taking they may be, for a while, +with the ignorant, or with those who are not deep thinkers, can +never stand for any length of time; and as for the ungodly, we +know <i>Who</i> has told us they are "like the chaff which the wind +driveth away." I have undertaken this work in a spirit of prayer +to God for His assistance, and His blessing. Many of my readers. +I am sure, will unite their prayers to mine, that it may be continued +in the same spirit. Some few may object to this address +from a minister of Christ to a Christian community, and say that +it is according to the puritanical cant of the day. I answer, that +such cant (if mere cant) is quite as offensive to me as to themselves; +almost as offensive as the cant of ungodliness; but I +cannot forget those words of solemn warning, from One who, +alas, is still the despised and rejected of many men: "Whosoever +shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous +and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, +when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy +angels."</p> + +<p>The second number of "<span class="smcap">Social Evils</span>," entitled "<i>The Lady +and the Lady's Maid</i>," will be republished about the 1st of February, +1834.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="center">THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY.</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">No. I. <span class="smcap">The Life of Wiclif.</span> By Charles Webb Le Bas, A.M.</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">II. <span class="smcap">The Consistency of the whole Scheme of Revelation +with Itself and with Human Reason.</span> By Philip +Nicholas Shuttleworth, D.D.</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">III., IV. <span class="smcap">Luther and the Lutheran Reformation.</span> By +John Scott, A.M.</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">V., VI. <span class="smcap">The Life of Archbishop Cranmer.</span> By Charles +Webb Le Bas, A.M.</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">VII., VIII. <span class="smcap">History of the Reformed Religion in France.</span> +By Rev. Edward Smedley, M.A. <i>In Press.</i></p> + +<div class="transnote margin-top3"> + <h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> + <ul> + <li class="margin-bottom5"> + Obvious punctuation and spelling errors repaired. + </li> + <li class="margin-bottom5"> + Original spelling and its variations were not standardized. + </li> + <li class="margin-bottom5"> + Original use of quotation marks was left unchanged. + </li> + <li class="margin-bottom5"> + The word "scattered is missing between pages 135 and 136. + </li> + <li class="margin-bottom5"> + "... have got permission from your friends...." This should be "permission + from parents," as the context suggests. + </li> + <li class="margin-bottom5"> + Footnotes were moved to the end of the paragraphs to which they applied and + numbered in one continuous sequence. + </li> + </ul> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44377 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/44377-h/images/cover.jpg b/44377-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..49f465c --- /dev/null +++ b/44377-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/44377-h/images/i_002.jpg b/44377-h/images/i_002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c0485c --- /dev/null +++ b/44377-h/images/i_002.jpg diff --git a/44377-h/images/i_003.jpg b/44377-h/images/i_003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d119d03 --- /dev/null +++ b/44377-h/images/i_003.jpg diff --git a/44377-h/images/i_022a.jpg b/44377-h/images/i_022a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1d0222e --- /dev/null +++ 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