its noise for a considerable time without intermission. This latter
belongs to a very different tribe. It is usually found in old wood,
decayed furniture, neglected books, &c.; and both the male and the
female have the power of making this ticking noise, in order to attract
each other. The Rev. Mr. Derham seems to have been the first naturalist
who examined and described this species; and he says that during the
month of July, in one particular summer, they scarcely ever ceased to
beat either in day or night. The eggs are generally hatched about the
beginning of March: many of them live through the winter; but during
that time, to avoid the frost, they bury themselves deep in dust.

Mr. T. Carpenter (of whose paper in _Gill's Repository_ we have
already availed ourselves) tells us that these insects are excellent
anatomists: in order to render them useful in making some delicate
dissections for his microscope, Mr. Carpenter placed a few of the
insects within a pill-box, with the heads of three dead flies. He found
some time afterwards, that they had cleared the interior of some of the
eyes completely from all the blood-vessels, leaving the lenses in the
cornea beautifully transparent.

* * * * *

BIRDS' NESTS.

The structure of the nests of birds affords, perhaps, one of the most
agreeable lessons in Natural History.

Among the most curious nests of our _English_ birds may be named
that of the _Wren_, the _long-tailed Titmouse_, the _Thrush_,
the _Goldfinch_, the _Chaffinch_, the _Magpie_, and the _House
Sparrow_; to these may also be added the _Swallow's_, the _Martin's_,
the _Wood Pigeon's_, and the _Wood-Pecker's_. Of the nests of _Rooks_,
it may be sufficient to observe, that they are often found to the number
of six, or even more in a cluster. _Crows'_ nests are always
solitary; they are similar in structure to those of the rook.

Among the nests of Foreign birds, that of the _Taylor Bird_
deserves especial mention; the bird itself is a diminutive one, being
little more than three inches long; it is an inhabitant of India. The
nest is sometimes constructed of two leaves, one of them dead; the
latter is fixed to the living one as it hangs upon the tree, by sewing
both together in the manner of a pouch or purse; it is open at the top,
and the cavity is filled with fine down; and, being suspended from the
branch, the birds are secure from the depredations of snakes and
mon