New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-10

various directions while tie Itself formed On outelce Gov
ering the whole
Under the division Of sociabie builders, We have most
interesting account Of the Socabe Weaver bird whose
nests are large enough TO shelter five or six men.
Large the domcle and capable least Of containing
number Of parents and young it is originally Tie woFA
Of single pair and etlaas It's enormous dimensions .! t.o
abors OF those birds which choose to associate IN common
The Grt task Of the Weaver bird is procure large au9n
y Of the herb which really seems as II made expressly r
the purpose THIS is grass vih very large very t9ugn
aud very wide blade which il known 20 the eolons as
Booebmannie grass probably because grows plen,ly IN
that part Of Southern Africa where the b1'AmenOf DOs
They carry grass some suitable tree which usually
species OF acacia called by the Dutch eoonists ntc
dorm (Acacid 9irGga because the CRANE Wch no Duyh
persist in calling Kameel camel Is fond OF gr"Hg on ae
leaves ms is the most api roprae tree ioI INC P
the wood extremely hard and tough and the boneaes are
therefore able 10 bear the great we the nests The birds
then hang the Booschmanc grass over su!taDe piD @
by Of wearing and plating it they form ROOF Of some
ing in number with each successive brood The nests arc @
closely together so that at last they look Ike mas o. %
pierced with holes and is really wonderful ha'
the birds should be able to lind their way to their own
lar homes To human eyes the nests are as much ke as
houses n modern street. before the blinds tie hoWers aug
other additions have nnncated an ind yduaty 20 een
glide in and out without any hesitation
Passing from this Philadelphia Of the fowls Of the air,
We can stop with the Beaver just long enough to draw
moral for the human kind from this extract in which, had
Mr. Wood SO chosen the trapper might have been den-
fed with certain evil spirit whose are ever spread
for the unemployed.
" paressenL dler which do rot 1.-Two IN houses ana
make 20 dam bit abide sutteanean tunnels Ike those OF
our TO which they closely allied These
PareeaL aeaiwa{s macs ana u s9 g nsPg'i aS T
several W nhao.t the same tunnel The uappers hwals
pleased when he finds the habtaton Of an d as lis capture
is comparatively easy task
So too VIC may only allude 10 the the species OF KAN
CARGO called the Brush tailed Bet,ong which builds its
nest of grass and eonye to transport this material by
rolling it into bunch under IFS tall to the Jgger or
Earth-Fly Of South America and the West Indies, which
has an nconvenent prediction for human flesh as IT'S
abding-pacc and likes especially to bury Itself and breed
under the too-nais the Esculcnt Swallow, of Borneo
and Java whose nests attached the sides Of caycrnous
preepces arc formed Of selanous substance which
is cayaro Chinese epcues to the BODYBUILDING Night
neac and the Abatloss that houses itself on lofty lights
above the see. The chapters on branchbudng birds, on
bees and on corals are also only 10 be mentioned.
The extract with which We shall close concerns an insect
of Texas called the Agricultural Ant and is perhaps the
most remarkable Of all tho stories which Mr.. Wood re-
counts He gives it tie authority and in the language
Of Dr. Liucecum correspondent of DR.. Darwin;
The species which have named Ag,ienlnrs isa large
browuh ant IL dWes in what may b. termed paved ctes
and Ike a thrifty dlcent proydent former makes Sgtloe
and timey Arrangements for the coming season. When IL
ground borcs hole around which raises the surface
thee and sometimes six inches forming low circular mound
border which on average three or four feet nom the
entrance But fhe location j. chosen on ow NAT wet lni
7
At the time the work IL nevertheless the
mound IN tie form Of pretty sharp cone TO the night oil 10 70
inches or more aud makes tho entrance GEAR the SUNNI
Around TIE mound either the ant clears the GROUND OF
ali otructcas level. and smOoths the surface 10 the
,nce ~ iee or ur the gate Of the city giving
tie space tie appearance OF handsome pavement as II
/ really -. Ill T..
within this paved not blade 4 ANY green thing IS
allowed 10 grow. EXCEPT single species OF grsnoeane
gras Having planted this IN circle around ana Two
az three feet " tho mound tue insect tehus
and fgate with constant care cutting away AL 9the
gra,,rs and weeds that spring Up among H. ana AZ
around outside farm circle 70 the extent OF oe OF Two Ie'
or more Tie cultivated grass grows luNnshy aha po
oces heavy CROP of smaL white iny seeds which. under
fhe microscope very closely resemble ordinary rice when
ype N Is carefully harvested and carried by the WORKERS
ca and all into the ganary cells where j. dyested 81 the
char and pacscd away The ohas taken out and thrown
| beyond tie limits OF the paved area.
| During protraCtcd weather u sometimes hanpens
that tie provision become damp AID arc nses -,
su~out nd spo In the first nue. day tAe anus
bring out tho damp add damaged grain and expose u To
.un al, IA dry II back AID pack away All
ne sornd seeds leaving those that had spoued to waste
The illustrations OF this work are carefully prepared
! and may be fully trusted.