LIMA. 261 



employs. He collects small branches of white coral^ and ar- 

 ranges them together with considerable taste and judgment ; 

 thus forming a kind of hermitage, pleasing to the eye, 

 though not efficient, because the first wild wave might 

 scatter it abroad. A need, therefore, exists for binding the 

 fragments of coral together, and this the little arcliitect 

 readily effects by means of cordage, home-made, and for 

 which he is not indebted to any extraneous assistance. The 

 mention of cordage naturally brings to mind the manu- 

 facture of rope or twine, and the different hands that are 

 employed; but the little Lima rope-maker has no hands 

 to aid in effecting his purpose, — neither windlass has he, nor 

 pulley, nor materials such as men would use in the form- 

 ing of strong cables. And yet, though wanting in all these, 

 he sets to work, and spins firm threads, which he skilfully 

 entwines among the coral fragments till they are firmly 

 bound together. The exterior of his hermitage is rough, 

 and merely resembles a tuft of small-branched white coral, 

 which the waves have broken from their growing-place ; but 

 this does not signify, it is even advantageous to the occu- 

 pant, as serving to baffle the vigilance of his marine enemies. 

 The interior, on the contrary, is scrupulously neat, and well 

 finished ; every interstice is filled up with a kind of mortar, 



