Evening star., 1899-03-25
WITHIN THE SHELL
Birds, Beasts and Fishes That Are
Bern From Eggs.
QUEER CREATURES OF AUSTRALIA
How Mother Nature Takes Care
Of Her Embryo Creatures.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
rr.m Tho 81. louis Glohe-nemocrat.

From the 81. Louis GIob.. Democrat.
What is the significance of the word egg?
~ body which contains the embryo of
bird or other animal So says the die
tionary and adds. by way of fuller ex-
PLANTATION spawn of fish
Now although perfectly correct, this
swer fails to convey in any but vague
manner the breadth of possibility covered
by the little three-letter word.
When We consider that by far the larger
number Of creatures dwelling upon the
earth ~ this moment began their existence
within the walls OF a more or less hard
or tough envelope. popularity known as an
egg, it becomes al parent that the appella-
ton must do duty for very varied as
semblage OF objects.
1t will perhaps, be interesting. then, to
enumerate few of these: for, although
everybody is perfectly familiar with the
form and appearance of common blrd
egg comparatively few know anything at
all about the eggs of other creatures.
Not very many people are aware, for liz
stance. that at least three of the great
class of mammaia or animals that suckle
their young, lay eggs; yet such is undou5t-
edly the case. These three creatures all
belong 20 that continent of curious ami
mals-A Austria alia--alth0uSh two OF them, the
eChidnas, extend iEtO New Guinea. IheSe
echidnas are queer. ant-eater-Ike animals,
having a very fOrbidding coat OF sharp
pointed quills. OF their habits very little
appears to be known, save that they SUB
sist chiefly on insects, and that they really
do lay eggs.
Duck-BiHed PIatypus.
Much more detailed accounts are extant
Tespec,ing the life history of the third
egg-Iaying mammaI-the duck-billed platy-
puS.
OrnitEorhyucus paradoxus for this is
tn. lorfg-wirded name with which science
has saddIed the poor animals) is not unlike
a gigantic mole in general shape, except
that IL possesses a remarkable tail, with
1eet ana hill OF duck-lhe design
It's habits seem to closely resemble those
of our common water rat. Frequentlng the
rivers and streams of southern and east
ern Australia 1t makes its nest IN Dur
row scOoped out in a bank. Here mother
piatpus lays two flexible whlte-Shel-eu
rsgs. about equal to a martin In size.
81 hen first hatChed the tiny duckplls are
very i'll prepared to face the NlclsSltudSs
of this cruel wurd j, for they are both bllnd
and naked However, in the course OF time
and under the tender care OF thelr Wdtch-
ful parents. they eventually issue from the
nest hoIa into the water, there TO 1rohc
and feed Just like other duckbil!s.
All Birds Lay Eggs.
Leaving the mammalia. We find that all
existing birds lay eggs OF these the os-
trich lays the biggest.
The common cuckoo lays the relatively
smallest egg. For instance, the jackdaW
and the cuckoo are about equal III size,
yet the jackdaw's egg is some five or SIX
times larger than the cuckoo's-
The fact that the cuckoo is wont to de-
post its eggs in the nests of birds very
much smaller than itself doubtless in meas
Ure explains this.
The re reatiyely largest egg is laid by the
kiwi. a curious New Zealand bird. The egg
is inches long, although the bird Itself
only measures about - inches.
Cr0cOdileS' eggs may be seen in most
museums. They are white and hard
sheied and about the equal in size to those
of goose.
The amphibious turtles lay flexible, soft
shelled eggs. while, on the other hand, the
eggs of tortoises are hard-Shelled-
The eggs of most fishes small, soft
and more or less inconspicuous. but this
lack of individuality is amply compensated
by the remarkable numbers deposited.
Are Laid sinGiy.
A striking exception to the piscine rule
of numerous, tnconspicuous eggs is found
among the sharks and their allies, for the
eggs of these feroctous ocean denizens are
large in size. few in number and laid
sinsly, instead of in Masses
To discuss a possible reason for this diff
ference would be outside the purpose of
this article. but it may be noted in passing
that nature has a very plainly written law
under which rapacious flesh-eating animals
reproduce their kind to very limited
tent in comparison with many of the harm
less vegetable feeders.
Among the hotsam and jetsam of our
s-aShores a curious horny pod, shaped
Ike bolster. with long. spirally coied
tendril at each corner. may often be found.
This strange object popularity known as
"a mermaid purse, is the egg case of the
common dogflsh.
Another similar object but with short.
pointed arms at the corners in place Of
tendriIs. is equally common, and is the egg
of the thornback skate.
1t will he noticed that both these eggs
have projections from their corners What
Is the meaning of this? Every poultry
rearer is aware that eggs must not be
shaken. OF the delicate germ of life will be
destroyed and the eggs rendered useless
fOt' setting.
In like manner, If the eggs of sharks were
tossed hither and tfIither among the pillows
or dashed rudely upon the rocks they would
very speedily be rendered unfertile There
fore nature has provided corner projections
spikes or tendrils, the case NAV he
and these. becoming entangled among
IIonds OF seaweed. moor The egg, and keep
II riding safely from harm, like shin at
anchor
Like Hot House Grapes.
Leaving the fishes but not the ocean.
nave you ever heard OF sea grapes? Some
times when wandering along the shore
punches Of purple glObUles, possessing a
distinct likeness to the luscious hot house
fruit, may be seen lying in the wash of the
waves.
But though fruitl{ke IN aspect the resem-
biance goes no further. Taste one of those
sea grapes. and you would not only ne very
much disappointed. but very much dis
gusted also. for these clusters are In reaIity
the egg masses OF the common ctIttIs-fish
Among the near relations of the clittla
are snails. slugs and shell fish" of MANY
kinds. ami in this srea- group 0f animals
eggs Of so many different forms are found
that large volume would be required TO
adequately enumeraJe their varieties II il
obvious. therefore, that very little can here
be said respecting them. one or TWO diverse
examples however. may be cited
II the eggs OF mollusks are varied in an
pearance, Inose Of insects are infinitely
more so. Moreover. MANY OF them ra
Darvelously beautiful in form and design