NATHANIEL LAWRENCE AUSTEN. xvii 



the golden-crested wren as closely simulating the 

 colour of the bark of the branch on which it is 

 built, p. 121. 



The clothing of animals was carefully noticed by 

 him ; his remarks at p. 57 on the hairy tiger, the 

 fur of the -bat, the water-vole, and especially the ear 

 of the water-shrew, showed that already he was 

 collecting evidences of design. 



In many passages we may discern that our author 

 had already worked out for himself an outline of 

 the wonderful manner in which animal life is regu- 

 lated by the law of "eat and be eaten." When 

 writing of the oyster, p. 117, we find this idea well 

 expressed, thus, " I think it will be found in all 

 animals that multiply their species at a very great 

 rate, of which every individual brings forth its 

 thousands, that on the opposite side of the balance- 

 sheet there are a great number of enemies ever present 

 to keep under the species and prevent its increasing 

 in undue ratio." He applies this observation to 

 real practice in his instructions as to how to manage 

 a reptile vivarium. He describes a failure from 

 want of knowledge of the habits of each animal in 

 the following words : "A pretty scene of confusion 

 took place ; fish were killed or had their flesh eaten 

 away by voracious beetles ; newts escaped and were 

 trodden upon, or were found in unexpected places 

 to the terror of weak-nerved persons." 



