MAY. 
159 
threads ; that the spider ejects a little jet of glutinous sub- 
stance, which the wind blows out into a thread ; others again 
suppose that the spider fastens one end of its thread, and then 
patiently crawls down^, we v/ill suppose from the fence^ 
along the ground^ and up the opposite fence^ taking care to 
keep the thread from contact with the surface on which it 
crawls : and when arrived at its chosen pointy hauls in the 
slack/' as a sailor would say ; that is^ tightens the web by 
pulling it in, and fastens the other end. These and other 
modes are said to be confirmed by actual observation, and 
probably they all are correct^ different species having different 
habits ; and even the same species may not always be con- 
fined to one mode of operation. 
C. — The network webs that are extended on bushes^ 
between palings^, &c, are beautiful and curious^ from the regu- 
larity and geometrical nicety with which they are construct- 
ed^ the lines radiating from the centre like the spokes of a 
wheel, and the interstices filled with many concentric circles 
of the finest threads : and they are particularly beautiful in 
the early morning, when every thread is thickly studded 
with little sparkling gems of dew. 
F, — They are so slender that one would suppose the 
slightest touch would break them^ but the threads are elastic, 
and very strong in proportion to their size ; they are suffi- 
cient to break the flight of small tvfo-winged flies, and to 
detain them in their meshes. Let us turn out of the 
road for a while into these beech woods^ where many a 
flower wastes its sweetness on the desert air.'' Here are 
two species numerous, besides the yellow dog-tooth violet^ 
which is abundant. They are handsome flowers, and are 
much alike in every respect, except in colour^ one being dark 
red, the other pure white, tinged with pink. Both have 
a corolla of three petals, three large heart-shaped leaves, a 
calyx three-parted, a style three-cleft, a seed-vessel three- 
