ANIMAL HOMESTEADS loi 



growing corn. The Squirrel, of course, is arboreal 

 in its habits, and in a tall spruce Fir tree constructs 

 its large " drey." 



The Stoat often takes advantage of a hole at the 

 base of a tree, and not only. rears its young there, 

 but makes it a storehouse or larder, where it can 

 stow away Pheasants' and Partridges' eggs to its 

 heart's content, and in a most ingenious manner. 



The homesteads of our feathered population 

 had best be treated of in a special section, their 

 number being so many, and their variety so 

 diverse. This being so, we may pass on to Rep- 

 tiles and Amphibians, which do not make a home- 

 stead at all, depositing their eggs (the Grass 

 Snake) in manure-heaps and elsewhere, producing 

 their young alive (Common Viviparous Lizard 

 and Adder), or laying their spawn (Frogs, Toads, 

 and Newts) in ponds, ditches, etc. 



Then we come to the Fresh-water Fishes, and 

 here again little need be said, for, in the majority 

 of cases, no homestead, or nest, or habitation of 

 any pretence whatever is constructed, the female 

 depositing her ova among gravel, weeds, etc., and 

 taking no further heed of same. 



But stay, we must not omit to mention our 

 industrious little fish the Stickleback, Three- 

 spined, Ten-spined, and otherwise, for he, gay 

 little fellow that he is in his red, soldier-like uniform 

 and brilliant eyes, builds quite a model homestead. 



