108 THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS LESSONS. 



description of the objects I had brought to exhibit ; so, 

 after a few words, I began the exhibition with the foot of 

 this spider, and so intensely interested were these people, 

 and so completely " flabbergasted," to repeat my friend's 

 exclamation, that beyond this object I could not get ; it 

 afforded matter for new thought to all who saw it. Will 

 it do so to the reader, I wonder? 



Now, after this story, let us proceed to examine the 

 spider's web. This is mounted so that we may see 

 it both as a transparent and opaque object. The latter 

 is preferable, so we use our bull's-eye lens and see it by 

 transmitted light. " Why," said my precious wife, the 

 first time she saw it, "it looks just like golden beads 

 on silver strings," alluding to the viscid globes sus- 

 pended on the lines of web. Now you will understand 

 why the combs are necessary to keep these exquisitely 

 delicate threads from encumbrance. Verily, I know not 

 where to begin when I attempt to express my thoughts 

 about the spider's web. Our poet Pope says, in refennce 

 to the creature's fine sensitiveness of touch, 



" The spider's web, how exquisitely fine, 

 Feels at each thread, and lives along the line." 



And Shakespeare, in reference to the healing property of 

 spiders'-web that is, the weaver spider, for while some 

 are spinners, others are weavers and rope-makers, says, 

 " Good Master Cobweb, if I cut my finger I will make 

 bold with thee." Another of our own poets, Dryden, is 

 less gentle in his dealings with our friend, and writes 



" The treacherous spider, when her nets are spread, 



Deep ambushed in her silent den does lie, 

 And ft els lav off the trembling of her thread, 



Whose filmy cord should bind the struggling fly ; 

 She .issues forth and runs along her loom, 



Eager to sci/e the captive in her net, 

 And drag the little wretch in triumph home." 



