70 OF ANIMALS IN GENERAL. 



and lie perfectly motionless, as long as there 

 appears to be any danger. 



The force of instinct is also very strongly shown 

 by the way in which many birds build their nests. 

 Their eggs and young being much exposed to 

 danger, the greatest ingenuity is displayed in 

 guarding them against it. Some build in thick 

 bushes, others in the clefts of rocks ; the bank- 

 swallow burrows in sand ; the starling covers her 

 nest with thorns ; the spotted woodpecker and the 

 nuthatch build in hollow trees, taking the greatest 

 pains to fill up part of the entrance with clay ; 

 and many birds, as the grosbeak, and others, 

 in countries abounding with snakes, whicfr are 

 very fond of nestlings, suspend their nests from 

 the extremities of the most delicate twigs, and 

 enter them through a narrow funnel-shaped pas- 

 sage from below. 



Questions. 



Into how many classes has the animal kingdom been 

 divided ? 



Name them. 



What is it that forms a great distinction between animals 

 and vegetables 1 



What has been given to animals in place of reason ? 



Name some of the effects of instinct, as in the spider, the 

 bee, and the ant. 



How do horses and oxen defend themselves ? 



By what means does the cuttle-fish escape pursuit 1 



What creature feigns to be dead when it is in danger "? 



Mention the ways in which birds build their nests. 



