TEE SPINNING SISTEREOOD. 823 



even by men of science mentioned with insulting and repulsive 

 epithets, are seen under the microscope to be really beautiful, 

 with every hair a plume, and the clustered eyes a crown of brill- 

 iant gems. 



The most congenial home of the spider is naturally in the para- 

 dise of the insect. In the Amazonian forest with its hundreds of 

 species, ranging from the almost invisible atom that sails off on 

 its own magic thread, to the bird-killer with eight-inch spread of 

 legs, we of the Western world must seek our most marked speci- 

 mens. One of the silent family described by a traveler has a body 

 like frosted silver studded with gold and emeralds, legs resembling 

 gold wire, and a net of exquisite gold-lustered silk. Brilliant red, 

 glowing orange, velvety black, glistening white, and other colors 

 in combination, both charming and grotesque, distinguish some of 

 them, while others appear in disguise. Withered blossoms, grow- 

 ing leaf -buds, thorns, rusty pins, sticks, bits of bark, and balls of 

 their own silk are successfully counterfeited by one and another 

 of this wonderful family. Many of these interesting Brazilians 

 are unwelcome to the throat of bird and beast, by reason of spines, 

 knobs, and excrescences of the most unique and fantastic sort. In 

 that land of extremes also is found their most remarkable work, 

 webs covering the whole top of a tree, with broad ribbons to hold 

 it in place ; and others so strong as not to be broken by small 

 fruits thrown violently against them. 



Intelligent, too, is our little arachnid cunning she has been 

 called. Many instances could be given ; one of the most inter- 

 esting is Belt's account of the behavior of spiders in the pres- 

 ence of the terrible eciton ants, which sweep the country in vast 

 armies, and devour every living thing : " All insects and small 

 animals recognize their relentless foe and make frantic efforts to 

 escape. The spider alone yields not to panic, but uses common 

 sense may not one say reason ? Some that were observed, upon 

 the first scent of danger, took to their long legs, and having two 

 more of them than any insect, and no inclination to stop for 

 luncheon, soon put a long distance between themselves and the 

 savage little hosts. Others, not caring to run, neither to be eaten, 

 simply swung themselves out into the universe by their magic 

 thread, and there hung between heaven and earth, like a certain 

 legendary coffin, till the uncivil enemy had passed by. Not one 

 was so stupid as the insects, to hide and be in a moment dragged 

 out by the murderers whom nothing escaped. Perhaps the cool- 

 est personage on the scene was a harvestman or Daddy-long-legs, 

 who stood on the ground right among those thirsting for the drop 

 of blood in his round dot of a body. His legs were long, and he 

 had eight of them, as well as a head (though one could hardly say 

 on his shoulders). There he stood, calmly lifting up leg after leg, 



