Animal biography, or, Popular zoology, Volume 41829 |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 25
Page 8
... labours of the rooks , jays , and some other birds , they sometimes do mischief to man ; and yet there can be little doubt , that the damage they thus commit is amply repaid by the benefits that result from these their unceasing ...
... labours of the rooks , jays , and some other birds , they sometimes do mischief to man ; and yet there can be little doubt , that the damage they thus commit is amply repaid by the benefits that result from these their unceasing ...
Page 20
... labour , appeared to be tired : leaning its head upon the earth , it continued in that position nearly an hour , without motion ; and it then retired completely underground . Early in the morning the body was drawn entirely underground ...
... labour , appeared to be tired : leaning its head upon the earth , it continued in that position nearly an hour , without motion ; and it then retired completely underground . Early in the morning the body was drawn entirely underground ...
Page 65
... labours the Chinese are indebted for the fine white wax , that is so much esteemed in the East Indies . They form a sort of white grease , which adheres to the branches of trees , hardens there , and becomes wax . It * DESCRIPTION . The ...
... labours the Chinese are indebted for the fine white wax , that is so much esteemed in the East Indies . They form a sort of white grease , which adheres to the branches of trees , hardens there , and becomes wax . It * DESCRIPTION . The ...
Page 90
... labour . These nests are too frequently seen in autumn upon the fruit - trees of our gardens : they are still more exposed to observa- tion in winter , when the leaves which formerly con- cealed many of them are fallen . They consist of ...
... labour . These nests are too frequently seen in autumn upon the fruit - trees of our gardens : they are still more exposed to observa- tion in winter , when the leaves which formerly con- cealed many of them are fallen . They consist of ...
Page 127
... labour becomes much more embarrassing . If , for instance , when the creature has half formed the pit , it comes to a stone of moderate size , it does not on this account desert the work ; but it goes on , intending to remove that ...
... labour becomes much more embarrassing . If , for instance , when the creature has half formed the pit , it comes to a stone of moderate size , it does not on this account desert the work ; but it goes on , intending to remove that ...
Common terms and phrases
abdomen adhere afterwards animalcules animals antennæ appearance attack become Bees Beetle body Bosc branches brown byssus caterpillars cavity cells Centipede chrysalis claws Coccus colour common concealed covered Crabs creatures Cuvier cylindrical deposit their eggs DESCRIPTION destroy devour earth eggs elytra extremely feed feelers feet females fixed flies four frequently furnished glass grubs habitation hatched head hive holes inch in length inhabitants insects jaws kind labour larva larvæ leaf leaves legs Linn Linn.-Le Linnæus live males manner membrane months motion mouth nearly nest neuters observed oviparous perfect insects plants Polype prey proboscis propolis pupa RAZOR-SHELL resemble round sand seen seize shape shell side skin snails sometimes soon species spiders spot sting substance surface SYNONYMS tail tentacula thorax threads Tigny tion trees tribe tube Volvox Vorticella Wasps whitish whole wing-cases wings wood worms yellow yellowish young-ones
Popular passages
Page 239 - The remark that I shall make on these cobweb-like appearances, called gossamer, is, that strange and superstitious as the notions about them were formerly, nobody in these days doubts but that they are the real production of small spiders, which swarm in the fields in fine weather in autumn, and have a power of shooting out webs from their tails, so as to render themselves buoyant and lighter than air.
Page 52 - They are particularly fond of kitchens and bakers' ovens, on account of their perpetual warmth. Tender insects that live abroad either enjoy only the short period of one summer, or else doze away the cold uncomfortable months in profound slumbers ; but these, residing as it were in a torrid zone, are always alert and merry7 : a good Christmas fire is to them like the heats of the dog-days.
Page 273 - For, to say nothing of half the birds, and some quadrupeds which are almost entirely supported by them, worms seem to be the great promoters of vegetation, which would proceed but lamely without them, by boring, perforating, and loosening the soil, and rendering it pervious to rains and the fibres of plants, by drawing straws and stalks of leaves and twigs into it ; and, most of all, by throwing up such infinite numbers of lumps of earth called worm-casts, which, being their excrement, is a fine...
Page 156 - There is a sort of wild bee frequenting the garden-campion for the sake of its tomentum, which probably it turns to some purpose in the business of nidification. It is very pleasant to see with what address it strips off the pubes, running from the top to the bottom of a branch, and shaving it bare with all the dexterity of a hoop-shaver. When it has got a vast bundle, almost as large as itself, it flies away, holding it secure between its chin and its fore legs.
Page 253 - ... new. .This also is found to be inconvenient, and it quickly returns to its old shell again. In this manner it frequently changes, till at last it finds one light, roomy, and commodious; to this it adheres, though* the shell be sometimes so large as to hide the body of the animal, claws and all...
Page 249 - The most of them, therefore, are obliged to continue in the flat parts of the country till they recover, making holes in the earth, which they cover at the mouth with leaves and dirt, so that no air may enter.
Page 6 - The noise which these enormous swarms made in seizing and devouring the leaves, was so loud as to have been compared to the distant sawing of timber. Swine and poultry destroyed them in vast numbers.
Page 238 - About nine an appearance very unusual began to demand our attention, a shower of cobwebs falling from very elevated regions, and continuing, without any interruption, till the close of the day.
Page 52 - As one should suppose, from the burning atmosphere which they inhabit they are a thirsty race, and show a great propensity for liquids, being found frequently drowned in pans of water, milk, broth, or the like.
Page 191 - I proposed making the experiment upon these ; they were therefore exposed to the sun upon a sieve, which had been employed to strain them out of the wine. In less than three hours, two of them began by degrees to recover life. They commenced by some convulsive motions...