What, it may be asked, are the instruments by which this little creature is able to bore into the solid rock, and excavate such a chamber? Its beak is its only instrument. This is a sharp little awl, peculiarly hard, and tapering suddenly to a point from a broad base; with this tool the bird proceeds to work, picking away from the centre to the circumference of the aperture, which is nearly circular; thus it works round and round as it proceeds, the gallery being more or less curved in its course, and having a narrow funnel-shaped termination. The author of “The Architecture of Birds” informs us that he has watched one of these swallows “cling with its sharp claws to the face of a sandbank, and peg in its bill, as a miner would do his pickaxe, till it had loosened a considerable portion of the sand, and then tumbled it down amongst the rubbish below.” The Human Frame likened to a House. Man’s body’s like a house: his greater bones Are the main timbers; and the lesser ones Are smaller joists; his limbs are laths daubed o’er, Plastered with flesh and blood; his mouth’s the door; His throat’s the narrow entry; and his heart Is the great chamber, full of curious art. His stomach is the kitchen, where the meat Is often put, half sod, for want of heat. His spleen’s a vessel nature does allot To take the scum that rises from the pot; His lungs are like the bellows, that respire In every office, quickening every fire; His nose the chimney is, whereby are vented Such fumes as with the bellows are augmented; His eyes are crystal windows, clear and bright, Let in the object, and let out the sight; And as the timber is, or great or small, Or strong or weak, ’tis apt to stand or fall. [Illustration: Chinese Spectacles] Chinese Spectacles. Mr. Davis, in his account of China, tells us that the people there do not make glass that is fine enough for spectacles, and therefore they use pieces of rock crystal for the purpose. The rims of the spectacles are of immense size and width, and give a very wise appearance to the wearer. The spectacles are attached to the head by silken strings slung over the ears, as represented in the picture. [Illustration: _View of the Bastile._] Story of Philip Brusque; SHOWING THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF GOVERNMENT AND LAWS. CHAPTER I. _Early Life of Philip Brusque.--He engages in the French Revolution.--Is at length suspected by Robespierre, and obliged to fly.--Enters on board a Ship, and is cast away upon an uninhabited Island in the Indian Ocean.--Description of the place.--Philip fancies that he is now happy, having found perfect Liberty._