THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



87 



The ravages of the Teredo are terrible. In a short 

 space of time they reduce the strongest beams to a state 

 of fragile sponge. In 1731 these molluscs well nigh occa- 

 sioned the submersion of Holland, having devoured the 



3( . Teredo, and Fragment of Wood devoured by others. 



greatest part of the Zealand dikes. They are a complete 

 pest, which we cannot check when we like. 



These animals incessantly assail the framework of our 

 strongest ships, and by perforating it in all parts place 

 them in danger and threaten them with instant shipwreck. 

 It is solely to preserve vessels from these terrible wood- 

 devourers that all those going on long voyages are copper- 

 bottomed. 



These then are the fragile molluscs which ravage our 

 naval structures; later on we shall speak of the insects 

 which pitilessly consume our dwellings. 



