Teacher's Leaflet. 763 



SPIDERS. 



The spiders are the civil engineers among the small inhabitants of 

 our fields and woods. They build strong suspension bridges from which 

 they hang nets made with exquisite precision ; and they build aeroplanes 

 and balloons which are more efficient than any we have as yet con- 

 structed, for, although they are not exactly dirigible, yet they carry the 

 little balloonists where they wish to go. Moreover, the spiders are of 

 much economic importance, since they destroy countless millions of 

 insects for us every year, most of which are noxious, like flies, mosqui- 

 toes, bugs and grasshoppers. 



There is an impression abroad that all spiders are dangerous to handle. 

 This is a mistake; the bite of any of our common spiders is not nearly 

 so dangerous as the bite of a malaria-laden mosquito. Although there 

 is a little venom injected into the wound of any spider bite, yet there is 

 no species found in New York State whose bite is sufficiently venomous 

 to be feared. 



There is no need for studying the anatomy of the spider closely in 

 nature-study work. Our interest lies much more in the wonderful struc- 

 tures made by the spiders than in a detailed study of the little creatures 

 themselves. 



Lesson XVL 

 the different kinds of spiders. 



Purpose. — To teach the pupils to identify in a general way the most 

 common spiders. 



Material. — This lesson should be given when any interesting spider is 

 discovered. The spider may be captured in a jelly jar or Mason's fruit 

 jar without being touched by the hands. A sheet of paper may be used 

 to assist in imprisoning the little creature. 



Observations for the Pupils. — (i). How does the spider differ from 

 insects in the shape of its body and in the number of its legs? 



(2). Has it large compound eyes like a fly or wasp? 



(3). What do spiders live upon? 



(4). What enemies has the spider? 



(5). Do you find this spider on a web? If so, 



(a) Was it in a web of simply crisscrossed lines with no 

 special shape, in the corner of a room? If so, it is a cobweb 

 "weaver. 



