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an aerial structure is reared within " the world of 

 waters." It is shaped somewhat like a pigeon's egg, 

 divided, is about this size, and, when illuminated 

 by the sun-beam, shines like a silvered mirror. In 

 a corner of this curious abode repose the ova of 

 the insect, wrapped up in a silken cocoon, and tended 

 by the female with incessant watchfulness. 



The aranea geometrica spins a very beautiful web ; 

 and it is worth while contemplating its operations on 

 a calm summer evening, in the snug corner of some 

 window, hedge, or paling : an old Latin poet has 

 said, 



" Nulla mihi manus est, pedibus tamen 

 Omnia fiunt ;" 



and, in allusion to the spider, the naturalist of the 

 sacred volume has observed, " The spider taketh hold 

 with her hands ; " and in these curious weaving oper- 

 ations, it is interesting to observe how well the tibia 

 and tarsus supply their place. Radii diverge to- 

 ward the periphery of several concentric circles, and 

 these will be found to be more polished and glassy 

 than those threads which intersect them, and are last 

 woven. The spider having collected the threads 

 emerging from the centre, retires to his hiding-place 

 in one of the angles, and holding these threads by its 

 tibia and tarsus, as a coachman does the reins, the 

 vibration communicates information whenever an un- 

 fortunate and unwary insect is entangled. The parti- 

 cular thread of the web is thus easily discriminated ; 

 and though the spider may be effectually concealed, 

 and invisible to the victim, it will pounce instantly to 

 the spot, glancing along the vibrating lines. 



That this curious tribe of insects may present occa- 

 sional phenomena connected with the meteorology of 

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