The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-14
deSTHETIC AMIAIhLR.
TIE Search for che BenntifHi By worms.r
tBlrds, md shell FIsh.


tBIrds, md shell Fish.
"Tbo simplest animals have an inherent
,yearnine after the beautiful in nature, and
otto this as an example," u decorative artist
said holding up for inspection a delicate tubc
seemingly Of mosaic. coilcd and twisted in Il
graceful manner. It's the house or tube OF n
little wormlike creature known as the tcro-
bella" closer examination showed that tho
animal was decorator Of great originality
as It's habitatiOn. about MS large IA n pipe stom
although evidently formed in tho main Of
rough material was entirely covered upon the
outside by delicate bits OF sholl OF varied colore
as well rs numbers OF perfect ones. the gen
oral effect showing boldness Of treatment re-
frcshing to tho artistic eye. Il kept the ami
NAL that made this" the artist continued. in
an aquarium ut Bermuda for some time. and
had the pleasure OF watching IL build it's house
and apply tho ornamental after work. When
out OF the tubc 1t appears n simple sack from
one end of which extend number Of tentaclcs
and peculiar fealhory apparatus. probably
Tue gus. The tcntaclcs arc sometimes half as
long as the tube. and are the arms with which
tho work is done. This tube was formed on II
sandy bottom. and bits Of material lifted from
II ono at time and fastened upon the growing
mansion win . secretion or mortar provided
But isn't the decoration entirely acct
dental p he was asked.
Not ut all was the reply. tested that
animal had an eye to the beautiful. so to speak.
IL may have been instructive. but he result
my aquarium was sand, formed OF ground bits
OF shoil and coral. mostly of tho curious coral
lum 80 common in tho eXtrcmc South, and in
the an imn had taken its blocks as they
came, along. the shells on the outside would
have been IN the minority but you see in this
tubp-unt here several pthprS--thut the
ehcls are IN tho majority. In fact. have seen
ahc tarepe,ia hGoW It's arms over the bits Of sand
pieces of coral that would have suited its pur
n n2se equally s y, well and sHlfct b9ani,ifnIly
taste !: and on this tube you can count ut least
forty perfect shells attached to it by the animal.
Here is another tube maker, tho nmphritc.
that does tho same. only not to such AN ex
tent"
Are there other animals that show n love of
decoration 7"
Yes although not generally known. There
are u number IN almost every class YOU can
ph0rus or carrier shell, from China and Jnpnn.
You see. from he top it looks like collection OF
shells but these are different shells entirely.
that the phuruS has taken II fancy to in its
travels and has fastened to its own shell by
some secretion. They crawl along in deep water
ward The sRe With Tie on t s srefcRGd
out ahcad their proboscis bent down, and the
opcrcuum towing behind them. II an empty
shell is found that suits the fancy it - covered
with some mucuS. ana lifted upon the shell,
which finally becomes covered rs you sec. and
resembles "a ball of shells gathered at random.
Here is another one" holding upa long rough
looking Sp"cmen called the C@cthimn 0igdn-
tr"m lnH see II ns2 is covered with shells
so llnely embedded in II that il appears Il solid
mass They were probably picked up in the
same way. from some inherent instinct. few
and tint WINS in tn" collection OF the Delcssert
Museum nj Paris, and with it was Il note in the
ing that it Vas brought to DnnirE in iSlo BY
I'm English sailor who drew it up on sound
ing lead of the australian const. and my
specimen, is perfcct cast Of the original.
me cnddice worm builds u tube very
similar g to the tercbcl!a. and have
the outside almost entirely Of small fresh wa
ter shells Of various kinds. am at first sight
i"rr be tmkfn tnr one Of the i%H"s Of the
one. the tdront"ig "tLJ'r, that shows u remark
ab,e 5heu!ty for hu!dimT houses that arc de-
ground: IN fact. tunnel or we'll Ii Ike that of
the tIap-door spiders. but Instead If trap it
foundation this outer covering is aid with
II great deal Of taste. The entrance being oval,
four small sticks are selected and laid around,
their ends ,crossinS each Other, and the sticks
are curved to fit the hole almost exactly;
upon these other stigEs. are placed until
TAKE, the ease Of the African manis TAX. tax.
ing down twig from SHELF: they take
their houses perfect. Here are two kinds upon
one twig;, II is, to all int"ats and purposes. a
"a" ornamental work put on by the animal ut
the last minute This consists of what might
be called rustic work, as III" entire nest is COW
cred with short twigs Of the same size and
length, all placed upon the nest in rows side
by side. rointnG the same way, so that the
nest looks like rustic cottage. Here is an
other deck"d with similar sticks. unl they are
across one another. forming diamonds and
sign"
Among birds decorative instinct is quite
common. and som" observers 20 as far is to
ON "a ra
called lampiIchtorS, from u peculiar habit Of
decoration. Al night they have been seen dart
giving insects, aud fastening them by pieces of
clay To thcir nests a. lights and as the young
giving operation. \ most Interesting case Of
II love Of tln"ry in birN- H. noticed in one that
not only builds = nest, bu, er"rts another struc-
4 rinCc j. selected by the bird whore
the shrubs on grass grows thickly and
feet more on l"os. Into this place are
brought a number of bright, rounded peh-
H., h. ana arI'insrd around against tn" roots of
ar" arranged in rows and lanes. The tops Of
the l""d~ that form IN" S.l"s m""t and form
oI"n at both ends and nI ont in walks. ri"
Ir""rati"9 .! NH nlarim.nt Is striking, if not
feathers are fastened on tn" walls ana root
oi-'n end mr. h,ars If bri'.-A-hrns OF Il
on" of, th'-" h"wrrs has hrrn found
thirty shells. most If them SOLICITED for their
bright c"lorng, and brought from III" >ea-horn
Ion: way off; eight large rod berries. Il hand
nI Of IunrtZ crystal, several pieces OF mica.
ON" pi'"c Of giH-~ ho;tl", soy n or eight skulls
bones u "A number of other small animals and
more than 200 feathers most of which were of
bright, GauIy color. All the material had
been COLLECTED by tn" birds. Their nest is an
entirely different strurturc.
That birds u"ticu differences hatwoin tho-"
OF their KIND -atnmiinr fact to III" troqlinmt"r>
81 any @n'ilogir"i garden. \ Wilt dwlk" u'ishtrd
among y tlnrl, II 'HA" ducks ON ia" lake in
Central Park. aud imm"datrly secured The at
tcNtion If H." domestic birds bv his handsome
appearance. much Ia IN" disgust IT ia" drake
hy tG" u.T'om"r. \ poacock in tn" Vienna
garden lost it, b'uutitu tail feathers and was
d"S"Iud hy IA" females, who took up with
ncW h.II 81 gorgeous plumase.
iME'RTCIN SILK WOHu CTLTI'RE