682 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



figured (Tegenaria domestica), changes its integument, or skin, nine 

 times before arriving at maturity, once in the cocoon and eight times 

 after quitting it. If they lose a leg it is quickly reproduced, and this may 

 take place half a dozen times in succession. Mr. Wood says, indeed, 

 that " the harvest-spider seems to set little store by its legs, and will 

 throw off one or two of them on the slightest provocation. Indeed, it 

 is not very easy to find a harvest-spider with all its limbs complete ; 

 and, if such a being should be captured, it is nearly certain to shed a 

 leg or two during the process. It appears to be totally indifferent to 

 legs, and will walk off quite briskly with only half its usual comple- 

 ment of limbs. I have even known this arachnid to be deprived of all 

 its legs save one, and to edge itself along by this solitary member, in 

 a manner sufficiently ludicrous. The cast legs contain much irritabil- 

 ity, and, even after they have been severed from the body, continue to 

 bend and straighten themselves for some little time." The household 

 spider above referred to lives four years ; and the female, after one 

 impregnation, is capable of producing nine sets of prolific eggs in suc- 

 cession, more than two years elapsing before all are deposited. 



Morally, the spider has a bad reputation, and is the subject of many 

 vile epithets ; but, when compared with its accusers, it presents by no 

 means a bad case. The Arachnidian ethics are in many respects 

 strikingly coincident with more ambitious systems. The spider prac- 

 tises the virtues of industry, patience, and perseverance, under diffi- 

 culties. The female is an affectionate parent, and very fond of her 

 young. About June the garden-spider makes up her little packet of 

 eggs, and encloses them in a snow-white silken envelope, and carries 

 it about with her wherever she goes. If it is forcibly removed, she 

 remains on the spot, hunting in every direction, and evidently in great 

 distress ; and if the white ball be laid near her she soon spies it, darts 

 at it almost fiercely, and carries it off. " When the time comes for 

 the little spiders to make their appearance in the world, the mother 

 tears open the envelope, and so aids her young to escape. As soon as 

 they are fairly out of the egg, they transfer themselves to the body of 

 their parent, where they cling in such numbers that she is hardly 

 visible under her swarming brood. They remain with their mother 

 through the winter, and in the following spring the bonds of mutual 

 affection are loosened, and the young disperse to seek their own 

 living." If the spider is a skilful hunter and an ingenious trapper, so 

 are the heroes of many novels ; but the animal has not yet been known 

 to indulge its predaceous practices in the way of mere wanton sport. 

 It is merciless and cruel, like inquisitors and tyrants, but does not per- 

 petrate its cruelties on the ground of difference of opinions. It is 

 moved by self-interest, the alleged basis of all political economy. The 

 spider " must live, you know," and it is a maxim with it to " look out 

 for number one ;" while it has a high appreciation of the advantages of 

 " coimer lots," but in all this it is by no means singulai*. Besides, the 



