NATURE STUDY LESSONS. 97 



jects in nature against which prejudice is stronger and more 

 deep-seated than against spiders. It was generally be- 

 lieved in times past that spider bites cause lameness, in- 

 sanity and even death. The belief is still well nigh uni- 

 versal that the bite of the spider is poisonous and capable 

 of producing serious results. But as a matter of fact, very 

 few species of spiders can bite human beings at all. Most 

 species are unable to open their mandibles sufficiently to 

 gain a hold upon the skin. Bertkau allowed spiders to bite 

 his hand. On the ends of the fingers the skin was too 

 thick, but between the fingers they easily pricked it. The 

 bite swelled and smarted for a quarter of an hour, then 

 itched for some time, and for a few days itched whenever 

 rubbed, as mosquito bites will. Blackwell made several 

 large ones bite his arm, and at the same time pricked him- 

 self with a needle. The results were the same ; no inflam- 

 ation or pain followed in either case. I have myself han- 

 dled many spiders ; have been bitten but once, and then 

 could detect no results whatever. The dread' of spiders, 

 evidently, rests upon ignorance and prejudice. 



But spiders, even if one dislikes to touch them, have in- 

 teresting habits ; many of them weave curious webs, and 

 all are useful to men, by reason of their destruction of in- 

 sect life. It is wise and profitable, therefore, in walks 

 afield, to give some attention to 



THE SPIDERS. 



Spiders maj^ be found at an}- season of the year and in all 

 sorts of places ; in the winter in houses and sheds, under 

 stones and the bark of trees ; in summer on shrubber}-, on 

 fences, on the grass, and even in the water, among the li- 

 lies, in tiny diving bells of silk. Some weave elaborate and 

 beautiful webs, some weave rude and shapeless nets ; some 

 make mere tubes in which to hide ; some dig holes in the 

 ground and line them with silk ; and man}', as the jump- 



