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Marvels of the Universe 



others in the same way form 

 a covered way some httle dis- 

 tance up a tree-trunk. The 

 object of these structures is 

 unknown ; it has been sug- 

 gested that they are to keep 

 water out of their burrows 

 in case of a flood, but this 

 hardly seems Hkely to be the 

 true explanation. 



One bright sunnj' morning 

 in May or June the njonph 

 conies up out of its burrow, 

 climbs up some tree-trunk, or 

 stem of a plant, ready to 

 enter upon its final state. It 

 waits a short time in the sun- 

 shine, and then by strong 

 muscular effort it bursts the 

 skin down the middle of the 

 back and forces its way out 

 of the slit. Gradually it comes 

 further and further out, until 

 the tail only is gripped by 

 the edges of the sUt as the 

 hard, stiff nymph-skin tends 

 to resume its normal position. 

 Then it bends right back- 

 wards and hangs down, soft, 

 Hmp and powerless, as though 

 the effort were too much for 

 it. 



Very soon we notice the 

 wings begin to grow — at first 

 short, thick and stumpy, bear- 

 ing little resemblance to the 

 large transparent wings with the sharp black veins of the full-grown insect — they begin to swell 

 out at the base. and. as the blood is forced into the veins from the body, these expand, stretching 

 out as they do so the folded and crumpled wing. Having attained their full dimensions, they are 

 still limp and soft, and the insect remains suspended by the tail while its teguments harden. 

 Then a sudden stiffening and straightening of the bodj' brings it once more upright ; it seizes the 

 plant with its legs, folds the wings along the body, and sits basking in the sunlight until it 

 acquires the strength and its wings the rigidity to enable it to take to flight. 



It will be remarked that in our second illustration several other insects — ants, beetles, etc. — 

 are almost as nmch in evidence as the Cicadas. Thanks to its sharp, strong proboscis, the Cicada 

 enjoys a considerable advantage over other insects, in that while they, in common with most animal 

 and vegetable life, are parched with thirst and weak and drooping in the hot, fierce sunshine, the 

 Cicada can obtain a plentiful supply of cool, sweet sap from within the bark of the branches of trees. 

 Other insects of all kinds, eager for a taste of the refreshing liquid, come up and wait for a chance. 



/.- ■ - '.'•■.■ " ■' [>■!'■ //. // Jv/initon. 



THE BLACK COCKATOO. 



This imposing bird is mainly a glossy greenish-black in colour, relieved by a band 

 of scarlet across the outer tail feathers. 



