which the animal can walk, and a kind of fortress in which it can dwell securely. The whole of the space is not trodden down to one uniform level, but consists of a network of roads or passages through which the animal can pass at ease. So confident is the Elk in the security of the "yard," that it can scarcely ever be induced to leave its snowy fortification, and pass into the open ground.

This habit renders it quite secure from the attacks of wolves, which prowl about the outside of the yard, but dare not venture within; but, unfortunately for the Elk, the very means which preserve it from one danger only lead it into another. If the hunter can come upon one of these Elk-yards, he is sure of his quarry; for the animal will seldom leave the precincts of the snowy inclosure, and the rifle-ball soon lays low the helpless victims.

The Elk is not the only animal that makes these curious fortifications, for a herd of Wapiti deer will frequently unite in forming a common home.

One of these "yards" has been known to measure between four or five miles in diameter, and to be a perfect network of paths sunk in the snow. So deep indeed is the snow when untrodden, that when the deer traverse the paths, their backs cannot be seen above the level of the white surface. Although

of such giant size, the "yard" is not by any means a conspicuous object, and at a distance of a quarter of a mile or so, a novice may look directly at the spot without perceiving the numerous paths. This curious fact can easily be understood by those of my readers who have visited one of our modern fortifications, and have seen the slopes of turf apparently unbroken, although filled with deep trenches.

THERE are many other animals which form temporary habitations in which they can remain concealed, because they are taught by instinct how to make their domicile harmonize with the surrounding objects.

One very familiar instance may be found in the common HARE, whose "form" is large enough to shelter the owner, and yet is so inconspicuous that the animal often lies undiscovered, though a human being has passed within a couple of paces of its home The Hare is never at a loss for a home, and

will often hide itself very effectually in a tuft of grass that seems scarcely large enough to conceal a rat. But it is by no means insensible of the value of a denser cover, and seems to have a peculiar affection for a thick, though small, clump of furze.

Within a mile or two of my house there is a heath which is partly studded with furze bushes, and which is a very paradise for various field animals. The field-mice have covered it with their "runs," which are often so slightly below the surface, that if the finger be inserted in the entrance it can be pushed along the whole length of the burrow, the only cover being a slight As to the Hares, a layer of still living moss. 66 form" can be found every few yards, and if a little thick stubbly furze-bush should be seen standing alone, it is nearly certain to be the home of a Hare, which has made its warm soft couch within the mass of needle-like prickles.

The TIGER has a very similar habit, and takes advantage of a certain drooping shrub, called the Korinda, which is of low growth, making its lair underneath the boughs, which afford at once a shelter from the sun and a concealment from enemies.

WE now pass to the Birds, the first of which is that remarkable species called the EDIBLE or ESCULENT SWALLOW (Collocalia nidifica). The popular name is given to it, not because itself is edible, but because its nest is eaten in some countries.

We have all heard of birds'-nest soup, and some of us may possibly have imagined that the nests in question are made of the ordinary vegetable substances, such as moss, leaves, and twigs. In reality, the nests are formed of some gelatinous substance, though its true nature is still uncertain, no one precisely knowing whether it is of animal or vegetable origin. Some persons have thought that the material is fish-spawn, which the bird fetches from the sea; others have supposed it to be a kind of seaweed, which is dissolved in the bird's crop and then disgorged; while others believe that it is secreted by certain glands in the throat, and proceeds entirely from the body of the architect.

When first made, these nests are very white and delicate in their aspect, and in that condition are extremely valuable, being sold at an extravagant price to the Chinese. They soon darken

by use and exposure, and are not fit for the purposes of the table until they have been cleaned and bleached.

These nests are found in Borneo, Java, &c. and are extremely local, being confined to certain spots. The birds always choose the sides of deep cavernous precipices, so that the task of obtaining the nests is extremely dangerous. They are attached to the perpendicular rocks much as the ordinary mud-built swallow nests, and are generally arranged in horizontal layers. The caverns in which the nests are placed are extremely valuable, and are preserved with jealous care from any intruder.

One of these nests in my own collection is shaped much like one of the halves of a bivalve shell, and is thick at the base where it was attached to the rock, diminishing towards the extremity. On the outside it has a very shelly appearance, being made in regular layers, whose edges are as distinct as those of the oyster-shell, but which have a double and not a single curve. In shape it is somewhat oval, but the base is necessarily flat, on account of its attachment to the rock.

The material is so translucent, that when placed on printed paper and held to the light, the capital letters can be plainly read through its substance. A glance at the interior shows at once the mode of its construction. It is made of innumerable glutinous threads, which have been drawn irregularly across each other, and have hardened by exposure to the air into a material which much resembles isinglass. The natives say, that the construction of a single nest occupies a pair of birds for two full months; so that there is some probability that the material may really be secreted by the birds themselves.

The nests are only used for one purpose. They are steeped in hot water for a considerable time, when they soften into a gelatinous mass, which forms the basis of a fashionable soup, and is not unlike the green fat of the ordinary turtle. Indeed, those who have partaken of birds'-nest soup say, that if it were seasoned in a similar manner, it might easily be taken for turtle soup. The Chinese value this soup highly, thinking that it possesses great power of restoring lost strength. It is, however, far too costly to be obtained by any but the rich, the best quality fetching rather more than sixty shillings per pound.

The natives of Borneo have some curious traditions about these birds. They reverence all kinds of birds, believing their ancestors to have been born from a native woman who married a spirit; but they have some singular legends respecting the Edible Swallow. One of these wild legends has been kindly furnished to me by C. T. C. Grant, Esq. formerly of the Sarawak Government Service.

A DYAK LEGEND.

"It was many, many years ago, that a Dyak of Semabang (in Sadong) and his young son arrived, after a long journey through the jungle, at a village called Si-Lébor. The village was extensive, the Dyaks very numerous. On arriving, the chief of the tribe placed food before the older visitor, but to his young son they offered nothing. The little fellow seeing this, and being very hungry after his journey, felt much hurt, and began to cry. To my father,' said he, 'you have given food, the priok of rice is before him, the fatted pig has been killed-everything you have given him. Why do you give me nothing?' But the child's appeal was useless. These strange Dyaks had hearts of

stone; not a morsel was handed to the fatigued and hungry little wayfarer; so he wept on, and wept in vain.

"After a while the boy looked more cheerful; he had dried his tears, and was now engaged in catching a dog and a cat. These he put together on the mat, round which all the people were seated. The cat and the dog played, or more likely, as these animals will do, fought together; but whatever it was, there was something so ludicrous in it all, while the boy sat over them and set them at each other, that the whole assemblage burst into immoderate laughter. The boy, it would seem, was working some spell-there was an object in what he had been doing. Perhaps he was in communication with evil spirits, or under their influence; there was something ominous about it, we know not what. But to proceed: presently the sky became overcast, and gradually great volumes of black clouds came sailing up, propelled by sudden gusts of wind. One by one they rolled along, and were heaped up one on top of another, or got all broken up, as it were, in their collision. The sky appeared one mass of confusion, looking blacker and more angry as the sun gradually disappeared in the darkness. At last the storm burst forth with a fury never known before; sharp flashes of lightning, followed by awful peals of thunder, succeeded one another, fast and furious; the very ground below shook as the palm-leaf quivered in the breeze-it seemed as if the great end of all things was at hand.

"Now commenced a gradual but awful change. Amidst the rolling thunder, and the dazzling lightning, which only served. to make the awful darkness visible, the village, the houses, all began to dissolve, to melt away, as it were, into burning lava, and, with his works, man perishing likewise. There you might see the grey-headed chief starting up, with his grandson in his arms, but, ere reaching the door, being gradually hardened into stone. There mothers would be seen flying with their little ones, to escape the same dreadful fate, but all in vain. There a young and helpless maiden would be clinging to her brave warrior, to that arm which had always been the first to help her, which could surely save her now. Alas! that cruel transformation! The living light in those bright eyes is gone, the tender grasp of that warın hand is cold; from flesh and blood they, too, pass away into senseless petrifactions; whilst, mingling