Animal biography, or, Popular zoology, Volume 41829 |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 80
Page 8
... seems the most eligible method . One person has been known to kill in a day , by this method , above a thousand : by which , though in so short a space of time , at a fair calculation , he prevented no fewer than a hundred thousand eggs ...
... seems the most eligible method . One person has been known to kill in a day , by this method , above a thousand : by which , though in so short a space of time , at a fair calculation , he prevented no fewer than a hundred thousand eggs ...
Page 11
... seem to know their own balls , but an equal care for the whole appears to affect all the community . They form these pellets while the dung remains moist ; and leave them to harden in the sun before they attempt to roll them . In their ...
... seem to know their own balls , but an equal care for the whole appears to affect all the community . They form these pellets while the dung remains moist ; and leave them to harden in the sun before they attempt to roll them . In their ...
Page 26
... seems a most providential instinct ; for , had he commenced his attacks on the kernel when it was small , he would have destroyed that on which all his future welfare depended , and that which is the principal food allotted to him by ...
... seems a most providential instinct ; for , had he commenced his attacks on the kernel when it was small , he would have destroyed that on which all his future welfare depended , and that which is the principal food allotted to him by ...
Page 32
... seem to indicate that their light is owing to their respiration ; in which pro- cess , it is probable , phosphoric acid is produced by the combination of oxygen gas with some part of the blood , and that a light is given out through ...
... seem to indicate that their light is owing to their respiration ; in which pro- cess , it is probable , phosphoric acid is produced by the combination of oxygen gas with some part of the blood , and that a light is given out through ...
Page 35
... seems to consist in discovering the sexes to each other . OF THE DYTISCUS OR WATER - BEETLE TRIBE * . The bodies of these insects are admirably formed for passing through the water with as little impediment as possible , being nearly ...
... seems to consist in discovering the sexes to each other . OF THE DYTISCUS OR WATER - BEETLE TRIBE * . The bodies of these insects are admirably formed for passing through the water with as little impediment as possible , being nearly ...
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...