Animal biography, or, Popular zoology, Volume 41829 |
From inside the book
Page 21
... fixed it to a stick which he stuck into the ground . When it began to putrefy , the Beetles , allured by the smell , having loos- ened the end of the stick that was fixed in the earth , brought it to the ground , and they then interred ...
... fixed it to a stick which he stuck into the ground . When it began to putrefy , the Beetles , allured by the smell , having loos- ened the end of the stick that was fixed in the earth , brought it to the ground , and they then interred ...
Page 28
... fixed to the stems and leaves of plants . In order to undergo their transformation into the pupa state , they spin a nidus , either on the stems of the plants which they inhabit , or amongst the flowers at the summit of the stem . This ...
... fixed to the stems and leaves of plants . In order to undergo their transformation into the pupa state , they spin a nidus , either on the stems of the plants which they inhabit , or amongst the flowers at the summit of the stem . This ...
Page 33
... fix them to the plant . When full grown the larvæ are about an inch long , and so nearly resemble the females in appearance , that it is a difficult matter to distinguish the sexes . When they change to their pupa state , the skin ...
... fix them to the plant . When full grown the larvæ are about an inch long , and so nearly resemble the females in appearance , that it is a difficult matter to distinguish the sexes . When they change to their pupa state , the skin ...
Page 35
... fixed to their feet and hands ; and that they spin , weave , paint , dance , & c . by their light . He also conjectures , that " a marvellous water would come from them if distilled ! " They are seldom to be seen abroad during the day ...
... fixed to their feet and hands ; and that they spin , weave , paint , dance , & c . by their light . He also conjectures , that " a marvellous water would come from them if distilled ! " They are seldom to be seen abroad during the day ...
Page 49
... fixed its eyes on an insect , it rarely loses sight of it , though it may cost some hours to take it . If it see an insect a little be- yond its reach , over its head , it slowly erects its long thorax , by means of the moveable ...
... fixed its eyes on an insect , it rarely loses sight of it , though it may cost some hours to take it . If it see an insect a little be- yond its reach , over its head , it slowly erects its long thorax , by means of the moveable ...
Common terms and phrases
abdomen able adhere afterwards animals antennæ appearance arms attack become Bees beginning body bottom branches brown caterpillars cells chrysalis claws close colour common considerable consist continue covered creatures deposited DESCRIPTION destroy earth eggs entirely extended extremely eyes feed feet female five fixed flies four frequently furnished habitation half hatched head holes hollow immediately inch inhabitants insects kind known labour larva larvæ leaves legs length light lines live males manner means middle months motion mouth move nature nearly nest observed operation perfect pieces plants prevent produced pupa remain resemble round says seems seen shape shell short side situated skin sometimes soon species spiders spring strong substance surface SYNONYMS tail thorax threads trees tribe tube usually whole wings wood worms young
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...
Bibliographic information
| Title | Animal biography, or, Popular zoology, Volume 4 Animal biography, or, Popular zoology, William Bingley |
| Author | William Bingley |
| Edition | 7 |
| Published | 1829 |
| Original from | Oxford University |
| Digitized | 9 May 2006 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |