THE HARVEST-SPIDER. 293 



is remarkably exemplified in those curious, well-known spiders 

 with short roundish bodies elevated on stilt-like legs, which 

 are seen to people in abundance every field of stubble, and 

 are thence called Harvest-men.* These, having no eyes in 

 front, have their one pair on the back, inserted vertically in 

 the sides of an elevated horn or tubercle, so as to afford the 

 animal, in its lowly position on the ground, the benefit of an 

 extended range of vision. 



In addition to perseverance and neatness, the spider num- 

 bers, as we have seen, amongst her more pleasing attributes a 

 large amount of ingenuity ; but we do not enlarge here either 

 on its mode of exercise or the works of constructive skill by 

 which it is exemplified, these having formed subjects more or 

 less direct of former essays. We have done our best to rescue 

 the hairy-legged spinner from unmerited dislike, but withal 

 we leave her, we-dare say, much as we found her, a very un- 

 popular, ugly little animal. Even with reference to externals, 

 it is certain, however, that she is looked on often with an eye 

 of prejudice. As for our domestic Arachne, she, poor creature, 

 as if conscious of her own unsightliness, lurks in shadow v 

 corners, and hides her grim features behind her woven veil. 

 She is certainly not prepossessing ; but wherefore, with her, 

 condemn as ugly her out-door cousins, which, warmed by the 

 sunshine into beauty, at least of colour, display a gaiety of 

 hue and variety of markings, such as make up in a measure 



* Phalanffium. 



