KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



229 



cated by authors, both of whom are entitled 

 to high respect and consideration. One of 

 these gentlemen, Mr. John Murray, says — 

 " The aeronautic spider can propel its threads 

 both horizontally and vertically, and at all 

 relative angles, in motionless air, and in an 

 atmosphere agitated by winds ; nay, more, 

 the aerial traveller can even dart its thread, 

 to use a nautical phrase, in the ' wind's eye.' 

 My opinion and observation are based upon 

 many hundred experiments. The entire phe- 

 nomena are electrical."* 



Mr. Black wall, on the other hand, states, 

 and I concur in his opinion, that the glu- 

 tinous matter emitted from the abdomen is 

 carried out into a line, only in those situa- 

 tions where the insects are exposed to a 

 current of air. When a glass bell was 

 placed over them, they " remained seventeen 

 days, evidently unable to produce a single 

 line by which they could quit the branch 

 they occupied, without encountering the 

 water" in which its base was immersed. f 

 From this, and many subsequent experi- 

 ments, Mr. Black wall is " confident in affirm- 

 ing that, in motionless air, spiders have not 

 the power of darting their threads even 

 through the space of half an inch. "J 



It is not a little singular, that many very 

 accurate observations on this subject were 

 made by President Edwards, when he was 

 only twelve years of age. They are detailed 

 by him in a letter written in 1715, and pub- 

 lished in a New York edition of his works, in 

 1829. It is republished in Silliman's 

 " Journal of Science," vol. xxi., with many 

 interesting remarks from the learned editor 

 of that periodical ; and it countenances the 

 opinion, that it is by the action of the 

 " gently moving air," that the thread is 

 drawn out to what length the spider pleases. 



The threads of the Gossamer are more 

 abundant in autumn than at any other period 

 of the year. But I have seen them at all 

 seasons, and never with greater pleasure 

 than when crusted with hoar-frost, and glit- 

 tering like little gardens of minute icicles. 

 In fact, they delighted me so much in their 

 new garb, that I took the earliest opportu- 

 nity afterwards, of embodying in rhyme the 

 ideas which they suggested : — 



It was a pleasant winter morn; 



Through all the silent night, 

 The skies had been of azure hue, 



And countless stars were bright. 



The sun in golden glories came, 



And shot his glancing ray 

 Across the woods, and o'er the fields, 



With hoar-frost glittering gay. 



* Insect Architecture, p. 345. 



f Linnasan Transactions, vol. xv. pt. ii. p. 456. 



j Magazine of Natural History, vol. ii. p. 397. 



That lovely, pearly, brilliant frost, 



The landscape overspread, 

 Like cold and fleeting beauties, which 



Adorn the youthful dead. 



In every field each blade of grass, 



On every tree each spray, 

 Was with fantastic garlands hung, 



As for some festal day. 



And yet as numberless and bright, 



And beautifully placed, 

 As though Titania's fairy train 



The fading leaves had graced. 



What could they be? I paused to gaze; 



And soon delighted found, 

 They were the gossamer's light threads, 



With ice encrusted round. 



That thread was like the poet's thought, 



The child of sunny hours, 

 Which often is by ice eonceal'd, 



Or swept away by showers. 



The icicles which clustered round 



That graceful, fragile thread, 

 Were brilliant as an infant's dream — 



Pure as the sainted dead. 



They were like human loves, which hang 



By links as frail and light, 

 A breath may rend them, and, alas! 



They ne'er can reunite. 



As dew they would have gaily shone, 

 Kiss'd by the morning breeze; 



As icicles, how changed they are ! 

 Yet not the less they please. 



Thus, o'er all Nature's works, we see 



That Beauty walks abroad; 

 And every change is lovely there, 



Because ordain' d by God. 



Kobbrt Patterson. 



THE LION ANT. 



Some years ago, Mr. Editor, on looking over 

 a few cases of insects, my attention was directed 

 to the Fourmilion ; and I thought a short account, 

 from actual observation, of this curious insect, 

 would interest your entomological readers in no 

 common degree. All I fear is, my not being 

 able to describe what I would, and what I think 

 absolutely necessary — viz. to give a correct idea 

 of this creature, without transgressing the fair 

 bounds of Our Journal. However, I am sure, 

 if 3 r ou will bear with me, you will be amused, 

 and, may be, learn something new. You have 

 created quite a new taste for the woi*ks of nature. 



My attention was directed to this formidable 

 creature, whilst strolling through the great forest 

 of Suvabelin, Switzerland, with one of the 

 greatest entomologists that ever existed. This is 

 many years ago; and my companion has since 

 been gathered to his fathers at the advanced age of 

 fourscore. 



The Fourmilion, Myrme'le'on des Fourmis> For- 

 mica Leo, Lion Ant, Ameisen-Lowe, is a most 

 singularly interesting insect, and well worthy 

 the consideration of all lovers of entomo- 

 logy. I have watched them in their natural 

 state in the forest, and closely observed them in 



