THE SPIDER. 



"The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' 

 palaces.' - — Pkov. xxx. 28. 



I must confess to a natural aversion to spiders, an 

 aversion I cannot overcome sufficiently to avoid shrink- 

 ing from contact with them ; yet I acknowledge that 

 they are more interesting to me than any other of the 

 insect tribe. I study their habits and ways with keener 

 pleasure than I do those of the industrious bee or the 

 active ant. 



There is an individuality in the character of every 

 spider which, in comparing one with another and 

 studying the peculiarities of each, gives it additional 

 charm. Each spider appears to act independently of his 

 fellows, and often indeed of the family pattern. He is 

 not of a sociable nature, and though he will sometimes 

 allow a small brother to give him a little help, or to look 

 on when some large web is in hand, he more frequently 



