noise is made, some naturalists believe that in them is the seat of the hearing sense. This belief is strengthened by the fact that, even when the head is severed from the body, these thread-like organs appear to be affected by sound. There can be no doubt, therefore, that to some extent the organs of hearing are situated in the antennæ. It has been, however, further ascertained that when the antennæ are removed the insect is still susceptible to sound, and further investigation has been made as to the seat of hearing. On each of the great hind legs is a peculiar glassy, more or less oval, drumlike structure, thought at one time to be useful for augmenting the sound made by the wing-covers; but not so long since it was discovered that they were the true ears of the cricket. No wonder that the sense of hearing is so great when the creature is blessed with at least two sets of ears.

It is sad to finish this short sketch of cricket life with a scene of quarrels and cannibalism. Knowing themselves, possibly, their own great failing, crickets prefer to live entirely alone. Each has his or her own cranny at the fire-side, and any intrusion is indignantly resented. The cricket insists upon being, so to speak, "cock of his own walk," and enters into deadly combat with an uninvited visitor. They fight until one of them drops dead. If the survivor has not lost too many limbs, and has yet sufficient life left in him, he refreshes himself with

the mutilated body of his vanquished enemy, and goes on chirping as before.

BUILDERS OF MOUNTAINS.

THE pyramids of Egypt were once reckoned among the seven great wonders of the world. These huge piles of stone were probably erected by the Pharaohs, during their several reigns, as sepulchres wherein, after their death, their embalmed bodies might find an "eternal abode." Such an idea is not quite so absurd as would at first sight appear. Considering the comparatively slight ravages which three thousand years have made, these gigantic tombs may reasonably be expected to shelter the royal mummies for another thirty centuries, and even then be far from total ruin. The highest of the seventy pyramids to be found in Egypt measures 480 feet 9 inches from its base to its apex, being nearly 80 feet higher than St. Paul's Cathedral, and occupying an area of 583,696 square feet. How such a number of huge stones as this building contains were hewn out, brought together,

and piled into such a mass of almost solid masonry is a mystery which will probably never be solved.

Supposing that ninety-six men, each 5 feet high, were to stand one above another, the head of the top

one would about reach to the height of this great pyramid. The ingenuity and industry of man has not yet resulted in erecting a building which would reach six times this height and be proportionately bulky.

Such an enterprise never entered his head in his wildest moments, and yet there are insects-tiny, blind, easily-crushed, feeble, crawling insects—which make for themselves dwellings so gigantic in comparison with their size that, were they to grow as big as men and still possess their native instincts, activity and industry-increased, of course, in proportion to their stature their habitations would reach the terrific altitude of 2,883 feet, or more than two-thirds the height of Snowdon.

The termites, as these wonderful builders are called, make nests from 15 to 20 feet high, they themselves being scarcely a quarter of an inch in stature! These marvellous constructions are not merely masses of symmetrically heaped-up masonry, but take the outward form of magnificent miniature cathedrals. In the centre of each nest rises the great dome; surrounding it are towers and turrets, some pointed like spires, and others capped with a conical roof looking much like an enormous toad-stool. Numbers of these nests seen, as they are, in South Africa, and on the American prairies, in groups, may well be taken for Indian villages-indeed, many of the natives' huts are not nearly so large as the palatial mansions of the white ants (as they are sometimes, though erroneously, called).

Inside, the dome is supported by four beautiful Gothic arches. The great saloon thus formed seems always deserted, unless repairs are needed. It would