HOSTILITIES OF ANIMALS. 



birds, especially when young, could not be supported. By 

 devouring the caterpillars, these birds preserve the fruits of 

 the earth from total destruction. 



Shell-fishes are extremely prolific, arid so strongly fortified 

 by nature, that their increase, one would imagine, would soon 

 augment to a degree that might be hurtful to other species. 

 Their noxious multiplication, however, is checked by num- 

 berless enemies. But their most destructive enemy is the 

 trochus, which is a kind of sea-snail. This animal is furnish- 

 ed with a strong, muscular, hollow trunk, bordered at the 

 extremity with a cartilage tooth like a saw. Against this 

 instrument, which acts like an auger, no shell, however hard 

 or thick, is a sufficient defence. These animals, called trochi, 

 fix themselves upon an oyster or a muscle, bore through the 

 shell with their trunk, and devour their prey at their leisure. 

 The animal attacked, if a bivalve, may open or shut its shell ; 

 but no efforts of this kind can be of any avail; for the trochus 

 remains immovably fixed, till it has completely sucked out the 

 vitals of its prey. In this cruel occupation, the trochus often 

 continues for days, and even weeks, before the life of the 

 animal attacked is fully extinguished. The operation of the 

 trochus may be seen in the shells of many oysters, muscles, 

 and other shell-fishes ; for their shells are often pierced with 

 a number of circular holes. 



The amazing strength of the whale, one would imagine, 

 would secure it from the insults of every other animal. But, 

 besides the annual depredations made by man upon the ceta- 

 ceous tribes, they are often attacked and killed by the sword- 

 fish. The snout of this comparatively small animal is armed 

 with a long, hard projection of bone, each edge of which is 

 furnished with a number of strong, flat, and sharp points, or 

 teeth, some of which, especially near the snout, are an inch 

 and a half in length. With this instrument the sword-fish 

 boldly attacks the whale. The whale has no other defence 

 but its tail, with which it endeavors to strike its antagonist. 

 But, as the sword-fish is more active and nimble than the 

 whale, he easily parries the blow by springing into the air, 

 arid renewing the attack with his saw-like instrument. When- 

 ever he succeeds, the sea is dyed red with the blood issuing 

 from the wound. The fury of the whale appears from the 

 vehemence with which it lashes the waters, each stroke 

 resounding like the report of a cannon. 



Upon the whole, every animated being that inhabits this 

 globe seems to be destined by Nature, not for his own individual 



