I08 EYE SPY 



the neighborhood of their cradle and swaddling- 

 clothes. They are the most independent and 

 self-reliant babies on record. They ask advice 

 from no one — indeed their mother died a year 

 ago, perhaps — but each determines to leave his 

 brothers and sisters, to " see the world " for him- 

 self, and paddle his own canoe. 



Fancy a first trial trip on a tight- rope from 

 the torch of the Statue of Liberty to Govern- 

 or's Island ! Yet such is the corresponding^ 

 feat accomplished by this self - reliant acrobat, 

 which a few days or perhaps hours ago was but 

 an es:af! 



Here is one family of spiderlings upon the 

 grape-vine spray, for instance. They are hanging 

 several yards above the water, and with an ocean, 

 as it were, between them and the distant country 

 upon which their hearts are set. But there is no 

 hesitation or misgiving. Let us closely observe 

 this eager youngster far out upon the point of the 

 leaf. The breeze is blowing across the brook. 

 Li an instant, upon reaching the edge of the leaf, 

 the spiderling has thrown up the tip of its body, 

 and a tiny, glistening stream is seen to pour out 

 from its group of spinnerets. Farther and farther 

 it floats, waving across the water like a pennant. 

 Two, three, five, ten, fifteen feet are now seen glis- 

 tening in the sun. Now it floats in among the 

 herbage upon the opposite bank, and seems reach- 



