EIGHT-LEGGED FEIENDS. 



A SINGULAR opportunity was afforded rue last summer 

 for making myself thoroughly at home with the habits 

 and manne v s of the common English geometrical spider. 

 By the pure chance of circumstance, two ladies of that 

 intelligent and interesting species were kind enough to 

 select for their temporary residence a large pane of glass 

 just oubside my drawing-room window. Now, it so 

 happened that tnis particular pane was constructed not 

 to open, being, in fact, part of a big bow-window, the 

 alternate sashes of which were alone intended for 

 ventilation. Hence it came to pass that by diligent 

 care I was enabled to preserve my two eight-legged 

 acquaintances from the devouring broom of the 

 British housemaid, and to keep them constantly 

 under observation at all times and seasons during a 

 whole summer. Of course this result was only obtained 

 by a distinct exercise of despotic authority, for I know 

 those poor spiders were a constant eyesore in Ellen's 

 sight the housemaid of the moment bore the name of 

 Ellen but I persisted in my prohibition of any forcible 

 ejectment, and I carried my point in the end in the 



