Animal biography, or, Popular zoology, Volume 4 |
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Page 78
The females fix themselves , and adhere almost immovably , to the roots , and
sometimes to the branches , of plants . Some of them , having thus fixed
themselves , lose entirely the form and appearance of insects : their bodies swell
, their skin ...
The females fix themselves , and adhere almost immovably , to the roots , and
sometimes to the branches , of plants . Some of them , having thus fixed
themselves , lose entirely the form and appearance of insects : their bodies swell
, their skin ...
Page 85
After death it remains fixed in the same place , and serves as a covering to
protect the eggs , and afterwards the young brood , until their members have
attained the necessary degree of strength to enable them to perform their allotted
functions ...
After death it remains fixed in the same place , and serves as a covering to
protect the eggs , and afterwards the young brood , until their members have
attained the necessary degree of strength to enable them to perform their allotted
functions ...
Page 158
After having fixed upon an angle , sheltered by any projection , on the south side
of a stone wall , or upon some rough part of its surface , she goes in quest of the
necessary materials . Her nest is to be constructed of a kind of mortar , of which ...
After having fixed upon an angle , sheltered by any projection , on the south side
of a stone wall , or upon some rough part of its surface , she goes in quest of the
necessary materials . Her nest is to be constructed of a kind of mortar , of which ...
Page 323
sition they are firmly fixed , by means of a fine and strong byssus or silk , the
fibres of which are agglutinated to the gravel , sand , roots of marine plants ,
broken shells , and other extraneous substances . The animals of many of the
species are ...
sition they are firmly fixed , by means of a fine and strong byssus or silk , the
fibres of which are agglutinated to the gravel , sand , roots of marine plants ,
broken shells , and other extraneous substances . The animals of many of the
species are ...
Page 337
... The creatures that are ranked under the Linnean order Zoophyta , seem to hold
a middle station between animals and vegetables . Most of them , deprived
altogether of the powers of loco - motion , are fixed by stems that take root in
crevices ...
... The creatures that are ranked under the Linnean order Zoophyta , seem to hold
a middle station between animals and vegetables . Most of them , deprived
altogether of the powers of loco - motion , are fixed by stems that take root in
crevices ...
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Common terms and phrases
abdomen able adhere afterwards animals antennæ appearance arms attack become Bees beginning body bottom branches brown caterpillars cells chrysalids claws close colour common considerable consist contain continue covered creatures deposited DESCRIPTION destroy earth eggs employed entirely extended extremely eyes feed feet females five fixed four frequently furnished habitation half hatched head holes hollow immediately inch inhabitants insects kind known labour 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...