534 



Marvels of the Universe 



tubular aperture, from which, when the creature is on the feed, the long, worm-like tongue is pi^o- 

 truded and retracted with the rapidity of hghtning. Although presenting considerable local or 

 individual variation in the matter of colouring, Tamanduas usually show a large black patch 

 occupying the greater part of each side of the body, with the rest of the hair yellowish-white. 



The smallest and, at the same time, the most beautiful of the true or American Ant-eaters is 

 the Golden, or Two-toed species, which is not larger than a rat, and has the body enveloped in 

 glossy golden fur, and a prehensile tail longer than the body, with its under surfaces bare, so as to 

 obtain a firm grasp of the bough around which it may be curled. The feet are completely 

 modified into climbing organs, the front ones having only a single pair of functional toes, armed 

 with hook-like claws, although four toes are retained on each hind foot. 



The Little Ant-eater, as it is often called, is restricted to the very hottest parts of the 



Tropical American forest-region, where 

 it is exclusively arboreal in its habits, 

 obtaining even its food amid the 

 branches. 



Examples of the Great Ant-eater and 

 the Tamandua are commonly exhibited 

 in the Zoological Gardens in Regent's 

 Park ; but, being nocturnal creatures, 

 do not attract the amount of attention 

 that is their due. 



THE TRANSFORMATION 

 OF FLAT-FISHES 



Nature has, in the course of the long 

 life-history of our planet, produced 

 creatures of a myriad different forms 

 and variations as diverse in their 

 structure and their uses as it is pos- 

 sible to conceive. While some of these 

 forms have survived through many 

 ages, others have passed or are passing 

 away, and it is according to their 

 observance or non-observance of one 

 extinction. This law is — Adaptabihty to 



I'holo i,»] 



iriatters <£■ Co., Longsight. 



SEA FEATHERS. 



A natural group of these Hydroid colonies, 

 size of tfiis species the arrangement of the pol 

 side of the branches can be plainly seen. 



In spite o 

 yp-celis alon 



f the small 

 cc the upper 



unvarying law that they owe their survival or 

 Circumstances. 



In some of her creatures the whole race has had to undergo a series of strange contortions before 

 arriving at a form suitable to their environment, while in others, each individual is compelled 

 at a definite period in its existence to pass through a curious process of transformation in order to 

 arrive at the same end. Such a case is that of the Flat-fish. 



As an example of Flat-fishes, let us take the Plaice. Any of our readers will remember it as a 

 broad, flat fish, particularly thin, with a long fin running down the whole length of either edge. 

 There is also a small fin just behind the gill. On the upper side the skin is a dark, mottled grey- 

 brown, and underneath it is white. The two rather bulgy eyes are situated on this upper side. 



But the fish was not always like this. For a short time after it was born it was much like the 

 young of other fish, with two equal sides and an eye on each side of the head, as is shown in the 

 illustration on page 532 ; but in a httle while the tiny creature began to lean to the left side and 



