280 SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS 



What is the space filled by princes and courtiers, who in life were 

 gigantic personages : and what that occupied by those workers 

 whom the world called insignificant ? T 



A Power without an Explanation. 



In most chalky rocks, such as those of which the white cliffs 

 of old England are composed, many portions run well out to 

 sea. If these are examined at low water they will be found to 

 be perforated with numerous holes, running to some depth, and 

 varying considerably in dimensions. These holes are made by 

 the Pholas dactylus, one of the most remarkable animals in 

 creaturedom. Hard rocks and timbers are constantly found 

 perforated by this curious shell, but how this operation is per- 

 formed no one knows. It is the more wonderful because the 

 shell is by no means hard, and cannot act as a file. Indeed, in 

 some species, the external shell is almost smooth. And, more- 

 over, if the shell were used as the boring-tool, the hole would 

 be nearly circular, instead of being accommodated to the shape 

 of the shell, as is seen to be the case. However they get into 

 the stone, there they may be everywhere found, and it does not 

 seem to be of much importance whether their habitation be 

 limestone, sandstone, chalk, or oak. Even the Plymouth break- 

 water, solid stone as it is, was very soon attacked by these 

 creatures. c. o. 



The Avarice of Power. 



You would not think a man who had held high office in the 

 state for long years would descend to mean and paltry tricks to 

 obtain still more power. But he will. You would not believe 

 that a vast capitalist would go out of his way to grab at the 

 farthing which the rough hand of toil is endeavouring to hold. 

 But he does. Power is avaricious alike in birds and men. The 

 more the man has the more he wants. These men who thus dis- 

 play the avarice of power are the white-headed eagles of society. 

 During spring and summer the white-headed eagle follows a 

 course to procure sustenance which you would judge very little 

 suited to a bird so well able to supply itself without interfering 

 with other plunderers. No sooner does the fish-hawk make its 



