measuring a quarter of an inch in diameter, and when it is first made, is of the purest white, so as to be plainly visible among the leaves.

This purity, however, it retains but a very short time, for after the spider has deposited her eggs, which are quite spherical, and about forty or fifty in number, she closes the mouth of the cocoon and proceeds to daub it all over with mud. The moistened earth clings tightly to the silken cocoon, and disguises it so effectually that no one who had not seen it before that operation, could conceive how beautiful it had once been. The muddy cover certainly makes the cocoon less visible, and may probably have another effect, that of protecting the inclosed eggs and young from the attacks of insects that feed upon spiders. Several other species have the habit of daubing their beautiful cocoons with mud.

This species is plentiful in Bostal Common and Bexley Heath in Kent, the profuse growth of gorse being very suitable to its mode of life, and I have several specimens of their nests taken from Shooter's Hill. June is the best month for them, as they may be found both before and after the mud has been applied.

An allied species, Agelena labyrinthica, is equally plentiful in similar localities, where its curious webs may be seen stretched in horizontal sheets over the gorse, and having attached to each web a cylindrical tube, at the end of which sits the spider itself. Heath and common grass are also frequented by this spider.

Besides the net or web in which it lives, and by means of which it catches prey, it makes a beautiful cocoon in which the eggs are placed. Externally the cocoon looks like a simple silken bag, perfectly white in colour, and, except in size, somewhat resembling that of the preceding species. It is only when quite freshly made, that the white hue of the cocoon is visible; for after its completion, it is covered with scraps of dry leaves, bark, earth, and other substances. If, however, this cocoon be opened, it is found to contain at least another cocoon within, and often comprises two, of a saucer-like shape, and made also of white silk. These inner cocoons are nearly half an inch in diameter, and contain a very variable quantity of pale yellow, spherical eggs, sometimes fifty in number, but often exceeding a hundred. The inner cocoons are firmly tied by strong lines to the interior of the large sac in which they are inclosed.

CHAPTER XV.

BUILDERS.

Building Mammalia-Definition of the title-Inferiority of the mammalia as architects-The BRUSH-TAILED BETTONG-its structure and colour-The Nest of the Bettong, and its adaptation to the locality-Singular method of conveying materials—Its nocturnal habits-The RABBIT-EARED BANDICOor, and its habitat-The generic title-Curious form of the ears and feet-Difficulty in discovering its nest-The MUSQUASH or ONDATRA-Its general habits-Its burrowing powers, and extent of its tunnels-The Musquash as a builderForm and size of its house-Mode of killing the animal by spear, gun, and trap -Its flesh and fur.

We now take our leave of the Pensiles, and pass to those animals which build, rather than burrow or weave. The materials used by the Builders are variable. In the most perfect examples, earth is the material that is employed, but in many instances. other substances such as wood, earth, and sticks are used by the architect.

As a general rule, the mammalia are by no means notable for their skill in the construction of their homes. In making burrows they far excel all the other vertebrates both in the length of the tunnels and in the elaborate arrangement of the subterranean domicile. The mole, for example, is pre-eminent as a burrower and as a subterranean architect, and there are many of the rodents which drive a whole labyrinth of tunnels through the soil. But they are very indifferent builders, and with a few exceptions are unable to raise an edifice of any kind, or to weave a nest that deserves the name.

Our list of Building Mammalia will therefore be a short one, comprising only three species, two inhabiting Australia and one a native of America.

THE first example of the Building Mammalia is the PENCILLED BETTONG (Bettongia pencillata), sometimes called the BRUSHTAILED BETTONG, and often known by the name of JERBOA

KANGAROO. The word Bettong is a native name for a group of small kangaroos that are easily recognised by the shape of their heads, which are peculiarly short, thick, and round, and very unlike the long deer-like head of the larger kangaroos.

The Brush-tailed Bettong is about as large as a hare, and its tail is not quite a foot in length, though it appears longer in consequence of a brush-like tuft of long hair which decorates the end. It is a pretty creature, elegant in shape, extremely active, and the white pencillings on the brown back, the grey-white belly, and the jetty tuft on the tail are in beautiful contrast to each other.

The home of this animal is a kind of compromise between a burrow and a house, being partly sunk below the surface of the ground and partly built above it. The localities wherein the Bettong is found are large grassy hills whereon there is hardly any cover, and where the presence of a nest large enough to contain the animal, and yet small enough to escape observation, appears to be almost impossible. The Bettong, however, sets about its task by examining the ground until it finds a moderately deep depression, if possible near a high tuft of grass.

Using this depression as the foundation of the nest, it builds a roof over it with leaves, grass, and similar materials, not high enough to overtop the neighbouring herbage, and being very similar to it in external appearance. Grass of a suitable length cannot always be obtained close to the nest, and the Bettong is therefore obliged to convey it from a distance. This task it performs in a manner so curious, that were it not related by so accurate and trustworthy an observer as Mr. Gould, it could hardly be credited. After the animal has procured a moderately large bunch of grass, it rolls its tail round it so as to form it into a sheaf, and then jumps away to its nest, carrying the bunch of grass in its tail. In Mr. Gould's work on the Macropida of Australia, there is an illustration which represents the Bettong leaping over the ground with its grass sheaf behind it. After the nest has been completed, the mother Bettong is always careful to close the entrance whenever she leaves her home, and pulls a loose tuft of grass over the aperture.

To an ordinary European eye, the homes of the Bettong are quite undistinguishable from the surrounding grass. The natives, however, seldom pass a nest without seeing it, and destroying

the inmate. Being a nocturnal animal, the Bettong is sure to be at home and asleep during the daytime, so that when a native passes a nest he always dashes his tomahawk into its midst, thus killing or stunning the sleeping inmates.

THE second Building Mammal on our list is also a native of Australia, and is known by the name of RABBIT-EARED BANDICOOT (Perameles, [or Charopus] castanotis). Of the two generic names the latter is certainly preferable, as it alludes to the remarkable structure of the limbs. The fore feet are small and delicate, and only two toes are developed. Instead of being furnished with long claws at their extremity the feet are terminated by two short and pointed claws of equal length, and looking exactly like the hoofs of a pig. It is in allusion to this peculiarity that the generic name "Choropus," or swine-footed has been given to the animal.

It is a rather odd-looking little creature, about as large as an ordinary rabbit, and having ears so long and large that the resemblance to the rabbit is really striking. Owing to the great length of the hind legs, the gait of the animal is rather peculiar, being a kind of mixture between walking and hopping, and when the creature is alarmed, it jumps away with wonderful speed. Specimens of this Bandicoot have lived in England.

The nest which it makes is not unlike that of the Bettong, which has been already described. The animal inhabits the same kind of locality-namely, grass-covered hills, and "scrubs," and builds its nest of grass and leaves, sheltering it if possible beneath a grass tuft or some thick bush. The Rabbit-eared Bandicoot inhabits New South Wales, and the nests are chiefly to be found near the banks of the Murray River. They are, how ever, so cleverly hidden, and the materials of which they are built are so similar to surrounding objects, that an inexperienced person might almost walk over them without discovering their presence.

We now come to our last example of the Building Mammalia; namely, the MUSQUASH, or ONDATRA of North America (Fiber Zibethicus), sometimes called the Musk Rat.

This animal might have been placed among the burrowers, for it is quite as good an excavator as many which have been

described under that title, but as it builds as well as burrows, it has been reserved for its present position in the work.

Essentially a bank-haunting animal, it is never to be seen at any great distance from water, and like the beaver, to which it is closely allied, it is usually to be found either in the river itself or on its edge, where its brown, wet fur harmonizes so well with the brown, wet mud, that the creature can scarcely be distinguished from the surrounding soil. It is seen to the best advantage in the water, where it swims and dives with consummate ease, aided greatly by the webs which connect the hinder

toes.

The Musquash drives a large series of tunnels into the bank, excavated in various directions, and having several entrances, all of which open under the surface of the water. The tunnels are of considerable length, some being as much as fifty or sixty feet in length, and they all slope slightly upwards, uniting in a single chamber in which is the couch of the inhabitants. If the animal happens to live upon a marshy and uniformly wet soil, it becomes a builder, and erects houses so large that they look like small haycocks. Sometimes these houses are from three to

four feet in height.

The natives take advantage of the habits of the animal, and kill it while it lies on its couch, much after the same manner as is used by the natives of Australia when they pass the house of the Bettong. Taking in his hand a large four-barbed spear, shaped something like the well-known "grains" with which sailors kill dolphins and porpoises, the native steals up to the house, and driving his formidable weapon through the walls, is sure to transfix the inhabitants. Holding the spear firmly with one hand, with the other he takes his tomahawk from his belt, dashes the house to pieces, and secures the unfortunate animals.

As the fur of the Musquash is valuable, and the flesh is considered as good as that of the duck, it is greatly persecuted by hunters, who generally employ one of four methods, two of which require a knowledge of the home. One plan has already been described, and another consists in finding out the different entrances, blocking them up, and then intercepting the animals as they try to escape. Sometimes the gun is used, but not very frequently, as the Musquash is so wary, that it dives at the least alarm, darts into one of its holes, and will not show itself