CONTENTS 



PAGE 



nests Ostriches and their relations Kiwis "Sniffing" for 

 worms A remarkable egg Tortoises Strange use for a tail 

 Depositing the eggs Interesting behaviour "Robber-crabs" 

 A Munchausen-like story Crab and cocoa-nut The under- 

 ground bed Ghoulish habits Fiddler-crabs Laughable antics 

 Swift land-crabs Warning to trespassers A mile of crabs 

 Floods caused by cray-fish Tarantulas A well-planned den 

 The spider's tower Spider-eating sheep A brooding spider . 55 



CHAPTER IV 



MAKERS OF BASKET-WORK 



Stability of birds' nests Variety of architecture The typical nest 

 Goldfinch and chaffinch A beautiful tissue Outside decora- 

 tions Crossbills The birds at work Choice of material 

 More solid structures A warm-blooded race The perfect in- 

 cubator A nest made of lichens Homes over the water 

 Slender foundations Nature's cement A beautiful cradle 

 Homes on the water Concealing the eggs Floating nests A 

 damp bed Building enthusiasts "Invisible" nests Birds of 

 prey Aeries The lordly eagle Notice of tenancy Piracy on 

 the high trees An interesting faggot The honey-buzzard's 

 screen The type of parental devotion Protection and rubbish 

 Apes and their beds A lofty platform Family parties Paul 

 Du Chaillu's strange story A leafy canopy The orang- 

 outang's couch Our ignorance concerning gorillas . 70 



CHAPTER V 



ARCHITECTS OF SPHERICAL DWELLINGS 



The advantage of spherical architecture The astute sparrow An 

 evil reputation Magpie fortifications False pretences The 

 wren's many houses A tiresome partner Catholic tastes 

 The squirrel's "drey" Changing quarters A Lilliputian genius 

 Sticklebacks' nests ' Jack-sharps" and "tinkers" Homeric 

 combats Making a home Wedding finery Bringing home 

 the partner A careful father Fierce battles . 93 



CHAPTER VI 



MAKERS OF MOUNDS 

 ANTS 



Ant-hills The ant's adaptability Rival builders The roof of the 

 nest Doorways Life in the open Wood ants compared with 

 other species Closing the doors at night On guard Early 

 morning scene Keeping out the rain How a nest is made 

 How to watch ants at work Formation of halls The living- 

 room Earth nests of the mason ants Methods of the black 

 ants Home of the brown ant Columns, walls, and buttresses 



