406 nature's teachings. 



i.e. a few sticks bent into an arch-like shape, and tied together, 

 so as to keep the clothes from even touching the foot — all 

 would have been right. 



On the right hand of the illustration is shown the surgical 

 cradle, as a defence to a damaged leg. On the left is shown 

 the curious natural cradle of the Gad-fly while undergoing its 

 change into the perfect state. It is quite hard and rounded, 

 being formed from the skin of the larva, and allows the pupa 

 to lie within it, protected from any ordinary pressure. 



Another point now comes before us. 



We cannot well have our bedclothes — indeed, any kind of 

 clothes — without the use of needles and thread. The simplest 

 form of sewing is that which is adopted in many parts of the 

 world, namely, of boring holes and pushing a thread through 

 them, no eye being required in the needle. In this way the 

 Kafirs of Southern Africa and the Esquimaux of the Polar 

 regions make their beautiful garments of skins. I have for 

 many years had in constant use two South African cloaks, or 

 karosses, and one made by the natives of Vancouver's Island, 

 and they are now as good as they were when they were first 

 given to me. Naturally, such a mode of sewing consumes 

 much time, but, as time is not of the least value to these native 

 furriers, no harm is done, and the junctions of the different 

 skins is absolutely perfect. Even where holes have been made 

 in the skin, the native furrier has supplied their places with 

 circular pieces so neatly inserted, that on the outside not a 

 trace of the junction is visible, and even the very set of the 

 hairs is preserved. 



Our very modern needles, with their eyes which carry the 

 thread, are but a modification of the original plan of boring 

 holes, and pushing the thread through them. 



Nature has a singular parallel in the case of the Tailor -bird, 

 which sews leaves together by their edges, and makes its nest 

 inside them. It acts exactly like one of our own shoemakers, 

 using its slender and sharply poinled beak in lieu of the awl, 

 and employing a slight but strong vegetable fibre in place of 

 the "waxed end" of the shoemaker, or the sinew-thread of the 

 Kafir. 



