COCOA-NUT MAT. 405 



Even the cocoa-nut mat has its precursor in Nature. 



There is a certain Crab inhabiting the cocoa-nat bearing 

 parts of the world, which not only makes itself a bed from the 

 fibre, but supplies it to mankind. 



This wonderful Crab has the power of ascending the cocoa- 

 nut palms, which is beyond the power of any man except a 

 trained gymnast. It picks out the ripest fruits, and with its 

 powerful claws tears off the fibre before breaking the shell and 

 devouring the kernel, as is shown in the left-hand figure of the 

 illustration. 



After eating the kernel, which is at that time a soft, creamy 

 substance, quite unlike the hard, indigestible material which we 

 in England know by the name of cocoa-nut, the Crab carries 

 off the external fibres into its den, and there makes its bed of 

 them. So great, indeed, is the amount of cocoa-nut fibre thus 

 collected that the natives are accustomed to save themselves 

 the trouble of climbing the trees, and merely search for the 

 holes in which these Crabs have made their nests, knowing the 

 amount of ready-gathered cocoa-nut fibre that is always to be 

 found in them. 



Another modification of the bed needs a short notice, espe- 

 cially as I have practical and sad experience on the subject. 



PUPA OF TABANUS. SURGICAL CRADLE. 



It is technically named the " cradle," and is used to keep the 

 bedclothes from pressing on a damaged limb. 



When a mere lad I contrived, at cricket, to dislocate the 

 right ankle, and break the bone. An ignorant surgeon refused 

 my request for a cradle, and absolutely tied the cover of a book 

 to the sole of the foot. Of course this appliance was worse 

 than useless. It acted as a lever, allowing the clothes to turn 

 the foot round, and to the present day the right foot has never 

 recovered its faculties. Had the simple " cradle " been used — 



