MODES OF CAPTURING THEIR PREY. 509 



others do not take the trouble of weaving, but, choos- 

 ing a place of concealment, " in ambush wait" the 

 approach of their unsuspecting prey. It is, probably, 

 of this kind, that the Prisoner of ChiUon speaks, 

 when he says, — 



" With spiders I had friendship made. 

 And watch'd them in their sullen trade." 



Stanza XIV. 



Another tribe, distinguished by the appropriate name 

 of " Hunters," are for ever roaming about, " seeking 

 whom they may devour." The singular habits of 

 the Arachnidee, but more especially of those which 

 construct nets for the capture of their insect food, 

 have in all ages attracted attention ; and the natural 

 sympathy we feel in seeing the weak overcome and 

 destroyed by a foe too powerful for them to oppose, 

 and which unites stratagem to strength, has caused 

 the spider to be considered as 



"cunning: and fierce. 



Mixture abhorr'd." 



Thomson'* Summer. 



I shall not lose time by endeavouring to vindicate its 

 character, convinced that you will not deem any 

 animal cruel, which exercises for its support those 

 instincts with which it has been endowed by its 

 Creator ; but shall proceed to direct your attention 



p 



