ARCHITECTURE. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE HUT, TROPIC AND POLAE. PILLARS AND FLOORING. 

 TUNNEL ENTRANCE OF THE IGLOO. DOORS AND HINGES. 

 SELF-CLOSING TRAP-DOORS. 



Primitive Architecture evidently borrowed from the Lower Animals. Roof Hut 

 of the Nshiego Mbouve of Western Africa. Platform Hut of the Orang- 

 outan of Borneo. Lake Dwellers and their Huts. Tree-huts of Southern 

 Africa, and their Uses. Ascendancy of the Wild Beast over Man. Snow- 

 hut of the Seal copied by Esquimaux, and its Value shown. Pillars and 

 Flooring. Crypt and Cathedral. The Cuttle " Bone" and its many-pillared 

 Structure. The Wasp-nest, its Pillars and Floors. Tunnel Entrances to 

 Igloo. Sudden Formation of Snow. Nest of the Fairy Martin. The Sand- 

 wasp and its Mode of Building. Doors and Hinges. Eggs of the Gnat and 

 Rotifer. Cocoons of Ichneumon-flies. Habitations of Microgaster. 

 Trap-doors in Nature and Art. Habitation of the Trap-door Spider. A 

 Nest upon a Pillar. 



THE HUT. 



rpHERE can be little doubt that mankind has borrowed from 

 J- the lower animals the first idea of a dwelling, and it is 

 equally true, as we shall presently see, that not only primitive 

 ideas of Architecture are to be found in Nature, but that many, 

 if not all, modern refinements have been anticipated. 



To begin at the beginning. The first idea of a habitation 

 is evidently a mere shelter or roof that will keep off rain 

 from the inhabitant. When Mr. Bowdich was travelling in 

 Western Africa, he was told that the Njina another name 

 for the Gorilla made huts for itself from branches, the natives 

 also saying that it defended these huts with extemporised 

 spears. A more truthful account is given of the Mpongwe 

 and Shekiani, namely, that the animal builds a hut, but lives 

 on the roof, and not under it. 



Although this information has since proved to be false, there 



