LINKS IN THE CHAIN;

OR,

POPULAR CHAPTERS ON THE CURIOSITIES OF
ANIMAL LIFE.

BY GEORGE KEARLEY.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY F. W. KEYI.

1862.

LONDON: JAMES HOGG AND SONS.

100. c. 86.
189. c. ཉ༢།

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

AN UNSEEN WORLD.

Astonishment at early Disclosures of Microscope.-Extraordinary

Number and Minuteness of Living Beings it Revealed.-Impetus

given to Microscopical Research by M. Trembley's Memoir on the

Hydra.-Infusoria.-Ehrenberg's great Work on.-Polygastrica

and Rotatoria.-Feeding the Animalcules.-Discovery of Errors.-

Classification at Fault.-Border-land of Organic World.—Monads.

-Fish Animalcules.-Composite Forms.-Volvox Globator.-

Desmids and Diatoms.-Infusorial Earths.-Protophyta and Pro-

tozoa.-Amœba. - Actinophrys.— Foraminifera. - Bell Animal-

cules. Stentors.-Microscopic Swans.-Rotifera.-Melicerta.-Re-

vivification.-Life in Atmosphere.-Wide Diffusion of Microscopic

Life

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PAGE

CHAPTER II.

A DISQUISITION ON JELLY-FISH.

Sea-

Familiarity.-Popular Names.-Abundance.-Character of Composi-
tion.-Simplicity of Organization.-Rapacity.-Pliny on
Nettles. Stinging Powers.-A Bathing Companion.-Urticating
Organs.-Medusa.- Diversity of Form.-British Species.-Cy-
dippe.-Its Elegant Movements.-Capture of Food.-Tenacity of
Life.-Transparency.-Girdle of Venus.-Velella.-Floating for a
Likeness.-Portuguese Man-of-War.-Absorption of Food.-Veno-
mous Powers.-A Shipwrecked Fleet.--Diphydæ.-Gemmation.
-An Elephantine Illustration.-Development of Embryos.-
Polyp.-Form of Medusa.-Alternation of Generations.-Lumi-
nosity.-Phosphorescence of Sea

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III.

INSECTS, AND THEIR HUNTERS.

Contempt for Entomological Pursuits.-Growing Popularity of Science.

-Influence of Kirby and Spence's Introduction.-Attractions of

Entomology. The Model Insect.-Metamorphoses of Insects.-

Misapprehensions.-Aphides.-Parthenogenesis in Bees and Moths.

-Classification.-The Flea.-An Imperial Flea.-Honey-Bee.-

Honey and Wax.-Mr. F. Smith's Catalogue of British Bees.-

Humble-Bees.-Bee Tradesmen.-Curious Discovery.-The Glow-

worm.-Ant's-nest Beetles.-Mode of Collecting.-Lepidoptera.—

The Tineina.-Leaf-Miners.-Mr. Stainton's Services to Ento-

mology. A Butterfly Battle.-Eagerness of Collectors.-Trapping

an Emperor.-Devices of the Moth-Collector.-Sugaring.-Light.

-Love.-Sallows and Ivy. -Distribution.-Varieties in Flight.-

Pleasures of Out-Door Study

CHAPTER IV.

AN APOLOGY FOR SNAILS.

The Snails worth Attending to.-Are Disregarded because Familiar.—

Belong to an Old and Long-established Family.-Have Brilliant

Relatives Abroad.-Gastropods.-Carpet the Ground as they go.-

Love Revelations.-Eyes.-Structure of Tentacles.-Sense of Taste

and Touch.-At Dinner.-Remedial Powers.-Experimental Mutila-

tion.-Tender Demonstrations.-Eggs of Garden Snail.-Hyberna-

tion. Torpidity in Tropical Droughts.-British Species.-African

and American Species. Mr. Hugh Cuming.-A Tropic Picture.

-Philippine Island Species.-Devoured by Various Animals.—

Ancient Snail Sties. Formerly Eaten in England.-Prejudice

versus Philosophy

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CHAPTER V.

THE NAUTILUS AND ITS ALLIES.

Exploration of Sea-Shore.-Ransacking the Deep.-A Neglected Race.

The Cuttle-Fish.-Its General Structure.-Pounce-Bone.-Respi-

ration and Locomotion.-Agility of the Cuttle-Fish.-Uses of the

Ink-bag.-Fossilized Ink.-Polypus of the Ancients.-Its Sucking

Discs.- Rapacity.-Pedestrian Performances.-A Tough Encounter.

-Gigantic Cephalopods.-Rank and Structure.-Ancient Forms.

-Petrified Snakes.—Capture of a Prize.-The Pearly Nautilus.—

Octopods and Decapods.-The Sepiola.-Its Incessant Change of

Colour.-Pliny on the Polypus.-The Argonaut.-Is it a Pirate ?—

Pro and Con.-Madame Power Settles the Dispute.-Double Justice

done.-M. Sander Rang.-Cold Philosophy.

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