96 THE MICEOSCOPE AND ITS LESSONS. 



Spiders belong to a group which includes three 

 divisions scorpions, various mites, and spiders proper; 

 and these are all included in the generic name " Arach- 

 nida ; " so, if you wish to remember this, you may put 

 them together thus : 



The cheesemite, scorpion, and the spider 

 Do form the tribe of Arachnida. 



I suppose there is some relation between this very 

 aristocratic denomination and the legend told us in 

 Grecian mythology of the goddess Minerva, by whom the 

 distaff the ancient spinning machine was said to have 

 been invented, to which the Latin poet Virgil refers thus : 



*' To Pallas' arts her hands were never trained, 

 By th' spinster's trade she gets her livelihood." 



The spider, like Minerva, lives to spin and spins to 

 live ; but, unlike Minerva, the true Arachne is a reality, 

 while the Grecian goddess was an imposition. 



You must know, then, that, according to the pagan 

 story, although Minerva so much excelled all others in 

 spinning, yet Arachne, a young lady of Lydia, very 

 skilful at spinning, challenged her in this art : but it 

 proved her ruin ; for the goddess tore her work and 

 struck her forehead with one of the spokes of her wheel. 

 This disgrace drove poor Arachne into despair, so that 

 she hanged herself ; but Pallas, which is another name 

 for Minerva, out of compassion, brought her again to life, 

 and turned her into a spider, which still continues its 

 spinning. You will allow this story to be really a beau- 

 tiful myth, but yet how unlike our Bible stories ! 



Should you be inclined to listen to a further bit of 

 gossip, while we look at our spider, let me tell you the 

 origin of our English word " spinster ; " it signifies, you 

 know, an unmarried woman. 



