294 A SPIDER'S LEAF-NEST. 



for ungraceful form ? There is a beautiful out-door species 

 (white, with zigzag stripes of crimson) which affords, with its 

 nest, an object among the most curious and pleasing of those 

 produced bj insect appropriation of leaves. The collection of 

 such foliaceous .specimens affords of itself a pleasant pursuit in 

 country rambles. In such pursuit we have often, in July and 

 August, lighted on a leaf (usually of bramble or nettle) with 

 the tip and sides so turned over from the outer surface as to 

 form a perfect triangle, the edges being joined, and all inter- 

 stices filled up by white silk, which also lines this ingeniously- 

 wrought purse. The purse it is wherein lies hidden the 

 treasured egg of a maternal spider, and enclosed within is also 

 to be found the spider's self. A brooding bird will desert her 

 disturbed nest, but it is not so with this watching spider. 

 When her fabric is shaken, and even rent partially asunder, 

 she yet keeps guard within, and still maintains it when cap- 

 tured with her nursery, in order to test the duration of her 

 patient care. That has always held out longer than our reso- 

 lution to detain her, for day after day, even to a week's end, 

 have we found this spider sit, foodless, by her charge, her 

 ferocity abandoned, her industry suspended, her sagacity all 

 directed, not to destroy, only to preserve ; for these triangular 

 leaf-nests never seem employed as snares, and never have we 

 detected the purity of their interiors denied by vestiges of 

 slaughter. This pretty insect in her gentle employ, is un- 

 doubtedly a pretty object; but well-favoured or ill-favoured, 



