436 



Marvels of the Universe 



of swinging gentlj' from side 

 to side. It is a curious fact 

 that the male of this species is 

 excessively rare (indeed, the 

 writer knows of only one 

 example), but the propagation 

 of the species seems to be in 

 no way impaired therebj' ; 

 generation after generation 

 may be reared, but all are 

 females. 



The eggs are simply al- 

 lowed to fall to the ground. 

 They are no less curious than 

 the insects themselves, and 

 bear an exceedingly close re- 

 semblance to the seeds of some 

 plant of the gorse tribe. They 

 are little shortly oval bodies, 

 with a lid-like structure at 

 one end, in the middle of which is a little yellow button. When the egg hatches the lid is 

 pushed off and the young Stick Insect drags itself out, slowly straightens its back and limbs — for 

 in the egg it was all curled up — and presently wanders off to look for something to eat. It is very 

 like the adult in form, but not so long-drawn-out, and does not at first assume the stick-like 

 attitude. It feeds on privet, rose and a few other plants, and after moulting several times 

 becomes mature in about five or six months. 



While young they possess the power of growing new legs in case of accident, but the 

 process occupies three or four moults, and if the loss occur too late in life no attempt to 

 replace it is made. 



Photo !)»] 

 The marvellous beauty 



CIRRO-CUMULUS CLOUD. 



)f the Ciiro-cumulus is \vell shown here. 

 ,n accompaniment of fine weather. 



[_(!. A. il'trkf 



as a rule. 



iG. A. Clarlc 



ALTO-CUMULUS CLOUD. 



This is another variety of the Cumulus clouds shown in the previous illustrations 



THE CLOUDS 



BY GEORGE AUBOURNE CL.-^RKE. 



Of all the marvels that are to 

 be found in the universe, pro- 

 bably none can surpass the 

 clouds for beauty of form and 

 colour ; and whether it be tHe 

 scarlet pageantry of the sunset 

 or the purple gloom of ^ the 

 thunder-cloud, there is always 

 in the picture before us a sub- 

 limity that compels our admira- 

 tion. _ ■ , 

 Even the most casual ob- 

 servation cannot fail to bring 

 to our notice that the forms 

 assumed by the clouds are 

 many and various ; that, for 



