A HEAD-FOOTED NEST-BUILDER. 203 



dently thought it dangerous to approach an excited 

 mother guarding her offspring, and none yentured 

 to go within arm's length of her. Even her forlorn 



The octopus at rest. 



husband was made to keep his distance. If he dared 

 to approach to whisper soft words of affection into 

 his partner's ears, or to look with paternal pride upon 

 the newly-born infants, the lady roused herself with 

 menacing air, and slowly rose until her head over- 

 topped the barrier. 



" By an instantaneous expansion of the pigment 



