VARIETIES. 411 



the intruder under a tumbler, and brought him to me in 

 triumph, amid the fears, wonders, and shrieks of the assembled 

 spectators, M'ho considered the deed the most presumptuous 

 they had ever witnessed, and evidently expected some sudden 

 evil to befal the perpetrator. E. N. D. 



24. Longevity of a Spider. — " A lady to whom I am indebted for 

 several interesting facts in natural history, states that two spiders 

 have been in possession of two webs on opposite sides of a large 

 drawer for thirteen years. This drawer has for that period of time 

 been used exclusively as a repository for soap and candles, and has 

 always been kept closed and locked, except when opened to put in 

 or take out those articles. The spiders are constantly in the same 

 position, in a hole in the inner corner of their webs, and seldom show 

 more of themselves than their two fore legs projecting outwards." — 

 Jesse's Gleanings, Third Series. 



25. Earvngs turn to Flies ! — Sir, — The increased taste for 

 the study of natural history which is now apparent in this 

 country, is, I believe with reason, in part ascribed to the nu- 

 merous joopidar works on that branch of science which are 

 daily issuing from the press. How desirable, therefore, is it that 

 these works, which unfold to us the mysteries of nature di- 

 vested of the dry technicalities of science, should, at the same 

 time, be free from errors. I am led to this remark from having 

 observed, with considerable regret, in a work which I am sure 

 every one must read at once with pleasure and instruction, a 

 statement so erroneous as to mislead those unacquainted with 

 the facts of the case, and to induce those who really under- 

 stand the subject to look with ridicule on an otherwise inter- 

 esting and valuable work. I allude to Jesse's Gleanings in 

 Natural History, a work which, from the abundance of curious 

 matter it contains, and the kindly feeling in which it is written, 

 must, I think, be a general favourite. Judge, then, of my asto- 

 nishment, when, on taking up the other day, the third series, at 

 page 149, I found the following extraordinary paragraph: — 



" Earwigs turn to flies. This may easily be ascertained by 

 developing one, after kilUng it, with a pointed penknife. The 

 swallow-like tail will be discovered to be two terminations of 

 wings." 



With all the esteem I felt for the amiable author, this 



