LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 201 



been constructed with so much care and toil, 

 and perhaps at the same time crushing the little 

 animal that made it; when probably, if we were 

 inquired of why we did so, we could give no 

 other answer than that we have a natural an- 

 tipathy to spiders, and that we make a practice 

 of killing them whenever they happen to come 

 in our way a most unfeeling and cruel prac- 

 tice, truly. 



I do not mean to say, however, that we are 

 never justifiable in destroying the habitations, or 

 even the lives, of insects. When they become 

 a real inconvenience or annoyance to us, we 

 have the power, and, I believe, we have the 

 right, to do so. I would not wish my chamber 

 nor my parlor to be a nest for spiders, cater- 

 pillars, nor bugs ; but if, for instance, my little 

 friend the spider had, with the best possible in- 

 tention, and without an idea that she was out 

 of her place, chosen to weave a snug little web 

 for herself in one corner of my room, I should 

 certainly take the liberty of brushing it down ; 

 but I should, at the same time, carefully put the 

 little animal out of the window, to go in search 



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