404 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



define sewing as the art of joining together separ- 

 ate pieces of pliable material by means of threads. 

 Then our basket-worm as well as these ,leaf-rollers 

 and spiders are true tailors, for certainly they do 

 unite leaves into nests by silken threads stretched from 

 one to the other. (Fig. 120). Here in this nest of the 

 Insular spider, made in a hickory leaf, you can dis- 

 tinctly see the threads crossing the seam from side to 

 side, from one end to the other. Here are some nests 

 of the beautiful Shamrock spider, one spun among the 

 leaves of some vine unknown to me (Fig. 127), the 

 others made out of the leaves of a fern. They are beau- 

 tiful objects even now as dried specimens, and were far 

 more shapely when seen in nature. Xow, in these 

 cases and all similar ones, the ends of threads have been 

 made to adhere to instead of passing through pieces 

 after having been drawn taut, but the eflect is pi-e- 

 cisely the same in both modes — the threads pull the 

 pieces or parts together, and hold them so. That, I 

 think, may ftxirly be classified as tailoring, may it 

 not ?" 



" Yes, but here is a difference," said Abby, joining 

 in the discussion. " The art of the tailor or seamstress 

 has for its object the clothing of the body. IN'ow, if we 

 admit that the basket-worm's case is really such a cov- 

 ering, a true coat or frock, if you please, you cannot 

 say the same of these spider structures. According to 

 your own showing they arc houses, not garments." 



"Well put. Miss Abby, and you shall be fairly an- 

 swered. During the bright autumnal days I pitched 



