The Banded Epeira 43 



is the work of a Spider, the nest of the Banded 

 Epeira {Epeira fasciata, Latr.). 



A Spider is not an insect, according to the 

 rules of classification ; and as such the Epeira 

 seems out of place here> A fig for systems ! 

 It is immaterial to the student of instinct 

 whether the animal have eight legs instead 

 of six, or pulmonary sacs instead of air- 

 tubes. Besides, the Araneida belong to the 

 group of segmented animals, organized in 

 sections placed end to end, a structure to 

 which the terms * insect ' and ' entomology ' 

 both refer. 



Formerly, to describe this group, people 

 said ' articulate animals,' an expression which 

 possessed the drawback of not jarring on the 

 ear and of being understood by all. This is out 

 of date. Nowadays, they use the euphonious 

 term * Arthropoda.' And to think that there are 

 men who question the existence of progress ! 

 Infidels ! Say, ' articulate,' first ; then roll out, 

 * Arthropoda ; ' and you shall see whether zoolo- 

 gical science is not progressing ! 



^ The generic title of the work from which these essays are 

 taken is Entomological Memories; or, Studies relating to the 

 Instinct and Habits of Insects. — Translator's Note. 



