'*GOD BLESS THEE." 339 



attack be made on the face of a wall, which very frequently happens, 

 both assailant and victim fall to the ground togethejr, but without 

 making the former quit his hold. The Aranea scenica is under 

 the middle size, of a silver-grey colour, with legs short and formed 

 for leaping. Besides the four eyes in front, they have one on each 

 side of the thorax, which enables them to spy on each side as well 

 as in front. They may be always met with on warm walls, in the 

 summer season j and easily detected by their roving movements, 

 and their frequent action of turning round to look about them. 



Male spiders weave no symmetrical web like the females; but 

 wander about among the webs of their own species, on which, 

 however, they dare not enter without leave first asked of, and ob- 

 tained from, the occupant. 



I could add many curious circumstances relating to this interest- 

 ing apterous family : but having dwelt long enough on this rather 

 light subject, shall reserve them for some other opportunity. 



J.M. 



Chelsea, Nov. 5th, 1834. 



Tt is said that the indefatiorable botanical collector, Mr. Douglas, employed by 

 the Horticultural Society of London, to explore the western coast of North America, 

 has penetrated from California, northward, into Russian America, and from thence 

 crossed into Kamschatka, and intends returning home via St. Petersburgh ! This is 

 a route untrodden continuously before ; and no doubt Mr. Douglas will have made 

 many discoveries not only in his immediate pursuit of botany, but of other branches 

 of natural history and geography. The Russians, it appears, are making rapid ad- 

 vances in colonizing that part of America, having already obtained a vast territory. 

 Whither it will branch o^will be matter for future history. To Mr. Douglas we 

 already owe the introduction of many new trees, shrubs, and herbaceous beauties 

 and curiosities from the western coast of North America; and no.doubt this journey 

 will be productive of additions to our species pi an tar urn equally interesting. 



Electricity. — By conveying an electrified wire to the surface of a quantity of 

 water, saturated with any saline substance, an immediate and copious precipitation 

 is produced, and the salt forms itself into large flocculi. 



Flowers in Hot Water. — Place the flowers in scalding water so as to cover 

 about one-third of the stem ; by the time the water is cold the flowers will become 

 erect and fresh ; then cut off" the coddled ends, and put them into cold water. 



"GOD BLESS THEE." 



TO 



** God bless thee" — 'tis a sound doth come, 



Borne on affection's bright and beauteous wing; 



Calling up memory of a distant home, 



Th' o'er-spreading oak, the birds which used to sing 



Their tuneful vespers at the sunset hour, 



In the dark foliage of our childhood's bow'r. 



It is the anniversary of thy birth; 



What tribute can I send thee ? — I have not 

 An offering meet for thy much valued worth ; 



Prayers are but words, and words are soon forgot : 

 Yet this methinks will not soon pass away— . 

 " God bless thee," lov'd one, on thy natal day. 



L. 



