72 LIVING CREATURES. 



of catching its game is that which makes this animal 

 so interesting. Some kinds of spiders seize their vic- 

 tim by jumping upon it ; others by running it down, 

 as the tarantula of Italy does. But most of the varie- 

 ties make snares for their prey, by their wonderful and 

 exquisite webs. Before explaining their art of spin- 

 ning and weaving, read a short fairy story of the an- 

 cient Greeks. 



Garden Spider. 



Athena (A the'na) who is sometimes called Minerva, 

 was the daughter of Jupiter, and was the goddess of 

 agriculture. The ancients thought she invented the 

 plow and the rake ; and taught how to yoke oxen 

 and to take care of horses. She has the credit of 

 many other inventions. It was she, they said, who in- 

 vented every kind of work that women performed. 

 She taught the fingers how to spin, to sew, and to 

 weave ; and how to work the beautiful embroidery and 

 tapestry in which the Grecian women excelled. 



