At the furthest extremity of the burrow, which is always rather larger than the shaft, is placed the nest, a very simple structure, upon which are laid the eggs, which are very small, and of a delicate pinky whiteness.

the day, proceeds to the plains, and searches | tunnel slopes gently upward, so as to prevent for an ant-hill in full operation. With its the lodgment of rain. powerful claws it tears a hole in the side of the hill, breaking up the stony walls with perfect ease, and scattering dismay among the inmates. As the ants run hither and thither, in consternation, their dwelling falling like a city shaken by an earthquake, the author of all this misery flings its slimy tongue among them, and sweeps them into its mouth by hundreds.

Among the feathered burrowers the SandMartin, so common in England, is an excellent example. Few would suppose that the tiny bill of this pretty little bird was capable of boring tunnels into sand-stone. The SandMartin, however, prefers an easy task, when that is possible, and will always avail itself of a locality where the soil is loose, and yet where the sides of the burrow will not collapse. Having fixed upon a suitable spot, it commences to work in a circular direction, using its legs as a pivot, and by dint of turning round and round, and pecking away as it proceeds, soon chips out a tolerably circular hole. After the bird has lived for some time in the tunnel the shape of the entrance is much damaged by incessant passing to and fro of the inmates; but while the burrow is still new and untenanted its form is almost cylindrical. In all cases the

Few foes can injure the Sand-Martin during incubation, because of the difficulty of gaining admission to the nest.

Man is perhaps its worst enemy, for there is a mixture of adventure and danger in taking the eggs, which is irresistible to the British school-boy. To climb up a perpendicular rock, to cling with one hand, while the other is thrust into the burrow, and to know that a chance slip will certainly snap the invading arm like a tobacco-pipe stem, is a combination of joys which no well-conditioned boy can withstand.

The illustration shows the nest of the Kingfisher, which, although it does not excavate the whole of the burrow in which it resides, alters and arranges a ready-made burrow to suit its own necessities.

The Stormy Petrel, that bird of ill omen, as the sailors think it, digs its little burrow in the sandy soil, and there conceals itself and its treasure-a single egg.

Formerly the Woodpecker was reckoned

among the enemies of the forest. But now it is generally known that the common species is unable to cut through sound wood, but chooses a decayed tree, in which its pick-axelike beak is able easily to make its burrow. The burrowing powers of the ivory-billed Woodpecker are marvelous, its chisel-like beak having been known to chip splinters from a mahogany table, and to cut a hole fifteen inches in width through a lath-and-plaster partition.

The Toucan is remarkable for its enormous bill, which is decorated with brilliant tints of orange and black, scarlet and yellow, or red and green-varying in different species. Whether this huge beak is the tool with which it excavates its burrow is uncertain. It is said, however, that the young of the Toucan, being liable to the attacks of monkeys and birds of prey, whenever the parent bird is alarmed, all she has to do is to poke her beak out of the aperture leading to her nest. The assailant, seeing so huge a bill, fancies an animal of corresponding size behind it, and hastily flees.

KINGFISHER'S NEST.

Among the crustacea the Land Crab is fully entitled to be ranked in the class of burrowers. Its singular habits are, however, more familiarly known than those of the Robber Crab-a creature of strange, weird shape, difficult to describe, but easily comprehended by reference to the illustration. The Robber Crab inhabits the Indian Ocean. It does not live in a shell, but its abdomen is protected by hard plates. It is a quick walker, although rather awkward in its gait, impeded probably by the enormous claws. While walking it presents a curious aspect, being lifted nearly a foot above the ground on its two central pairs of legs; and if it be intercepted in its retreat it brandishes its formidable weapons, clattering them loudly, and always keeping its face toward the enemy.

The food of the Robber Crab is of a very peculiar nature, consisting mostly, if not entirely, of the cocoa-nut. It seizes upon the fallen cocoa-nuts, and with its enormous pincers tears away the

PETREL.