1 66 London Insects. 



empire, burned the library of Alexandria, and, among 

 other things but we are following him on to dan- 

 gerous ground, and had better stop before quite over 

 head and ears laid the first stone of the fabric of the 

 temporal power of the Popes. The chain of cause 

 and effect all through is unbroken, and is spun with 

 the Spider's thread. 



It is an aid to faith to know that the little creatures 

 which worked such miracles are not mere insects, but 

 form, with Scorpions and some other smaller things 

 (including Cheese Mites), a distinct class, which is by 

 common consent placed above the true insects. 



The reasons for the higher place given to these 

 bloodthirsty little creatures are that, both in head 

 and breathing contrivances, they are more fully 

 developed, and that, unlike most insects which are 

 born in a shape quite unlike their fathers and mothers, 

 and only reach the perfect form after a series of 

 metamorphosis, young Spiders leave the egg scarcely 

 less like their parents than a human baby is to a 

 grown man or woman. 



The female Spider is almost always larger and 

 stronger than her husband, and is prepared at any 

 moment to dine upon him if he comes too rashly 

 near her. 



The etiquette of the Court of the Medes and Per- 

 sians of Esther's day, which made it death to the 

 Queen who approached the King without a summons 

 unless he held out his golden sceptre, is exactly 

 reversed by the Spiders. 



The terrible lady sits in state in the middle of her 

 web, and, if willing to receive her lord, lets him know 

 it by raising the front pair of her eight legs in token 

 of acceptance. He, unless very young and foolish, 

 knowing her temper well enough and what she is 



