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ANIMAL LIFE ON THE 
fully preserved and propagated. Attached to the inner 
portion of the shell, and streaming out like the end of a 
plaid flung over the shoulder, is a fleecy, transparent sack, 
which contains from eight to a dozen beautifully elongated 
eggs, and each of these again, also almost as transparent as 
the water, contains a living creature in a state of incuba- 
tion. The attachment of the sack to the shell is a wise 
provision of the Creator's, to provide for the safety of the 
young in this state from being swept away and destroyed 
by the strict running current or lashing of the waters 
through storms in which they live, Avhich otherwise un- 
doubtedly would be the case. 
Having nothing else to attract our attention here we 
now step ashore, and with aimless intent saunter towards a 
row of cottages a little further down the bank. An assort- 
ment of stones and other curios upon the outside sill of a 
window is a common enough thing, indeed, but there is 
something in this gathering here — on this one in front of 
us we have now arrived at — that instinctively draws us 
to it. 
"What are these, ma'am, you have got there?" is our 
first question to the lady of the house, who is drawn to the 
door by the appearance of the stranger. 
" Thae are stanes, sir, ma husban' brocht hame frae the 
pit up by," is the frank reply. 
We are now joined by a young, burly son of the mine, 
seemingly anxious to have a share in the conversation. 
Reaching forth his hand, and picking out from the heap a 
round stone several pounds in weight, " Isna that a caerious 
ane ?" quoth he. " Whaur dae ye think it cam' frae ?" 
" Well, it is not a native of this locality. It is simply a 
chip of the grey granite from some far away hill ; and if it 
was not brought here by the hands of man, it was by 
