Preface 



symmetrical arches of the Clotho Spider's 

 nest, the astonishing funicular flight of the 

 young of our Garden Spider, the diving-bell 

 of the Water Spider, the live telephone-wire 

 which connects the web with the leg of the 

 Cross Spider hidden in her parlour and in- 

 forms her whether the vibration of her toils 

 is due to the capture of a prey or a caprice of 

 the wind. 



It is impossible, therefore, short of having 

 unlimited space at one's disposal, to do more 

 than touch, as it were with the tip of the 

 phrases, upon the miracles of maternal in- 

 stinct, which, moreover, are confounded with 

 those of the higher manufactures and form 

 the bright centre of the insect's psychology. 

 One would, in the same way, require several 

 chapters to convey a summary idea of the 

 nuptial rites which constitute the quaintest 

 and most fabulous episodes of these new 

 Arabian Nights. 



The male of the Spanish-fly, for instance, 

 begins by frenziedly beating his spouse with 

 his abdomen and his feet, after which, with 

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