PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 28, 1897. CONTENTS PAGE Preface 1 Life and Its Conditions 9 Plants that Feed on Insects 16 Slime-Animals 32 Primitive Lasso-Throwers 36 Five-Fingered Jack on the Oyster 41 Earth-worms in History 48 Fiddler-and Hermit-Crabs 70 Funnel-Web Builder 77 Book-Lovers 86 You-ee-up 90 Tower-Building Cicada 95 Honey-Dew 104 Milch-Cows of the Ants 108 Living Artillery 111 Bright and Shining Ones 115 Queen of American Silk-Spinners 121 Basket-Carriers 126 Honey-Producing Caterpillars 132 Hibernating Butterflies 144 Leaf-Cutter Bee 149 Battle Between Ants 153 Nest-Building Fishes 158 Slippery as an Eel 168 Rana and Bufo 174 Our Natural Enemies 186 House-Bearing Reptiles 198 Summer Duck 204 American Woodcock 210 Piping Plover 218 Bob White 222 Ruffed Grouse 230 An Old Acquaintance 240 American Osprey 245 Turkey Buzzard 252 Rare and Curious Nests 263 Strange Friendship 279 Nature’s Little Store-Keeper 285