LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 215 



not get the bag of eggs from the ant-lion ! I do 

 not see how people can bear to try such experi- 

 ments. The poor spider ! 



Mary. If I had been there I would have 

 killed the wicked ant-lion. 



Jiunt M. That would have been wrong. 

 The ant-lion was only taking its natural food, 

 just as a spider would catch a fly, or a man kill 

 an ox. 



The attachment of this affectionate mother is 

 not confined to her eggs. After the young spi- 

 ders are hatched, they make their way out of 

 the bag, by an opening which she is careful to 

 make for them, and attach themselves in clusters 

 to her back, head, and legs; and in this situation, 

 where they present a very singular appearance, 

 she carries them about with her, and feeds them 

 until they are old enough to provide for them- 

 selves. 



If you touch the mother, thus covered by 

 hundreds of her young ones, it is most amusing 

 to see them leap from her, and run away in 

 every direction. 



Many spiders live in the water, and feed upon 

 the insects which frequent it. One of these makes 



