12 
NATURE'S CRAFTSMEN 
spider joint right now," exulted Tommy. “Any¬ 
how it’s a spider’s nest in a bush! I pass it every 
evening when I go for the cows, but I’ve never 
thought of investigating it specially. How will 
I know the spider for sure. Uncle John? ’’ 
“ It’s a little brownish-yellow animal, with 
light colored markings. But the snare is suffi¬ 
cient identification; no other spider builds a web 
like it. Satisfy yourself that the trap is a genuine 
bowl and doily; then enjoy the little householder 
at your leisure." 
“ But be very careful, son," admonished 
mother. “ Spiders bite on the least provocation, 
and some of them are dreadfully poisonous. 
Most of the large ones are, aren’t they, John?" 
“No, Lucy, they are not," her brother re¬ 
turned, positively. “ Spiders are far more sinned 
against than sinning. It is true, of course, that 
spiders secrete a poison with which they kill their 
prey, but it does not follow that this venom 
would be harmful to man. Besides, spiders are 
timid by nature; their chief thought when cor¬ 
nered is escape, not fight. I have handled scores 
of them, and not one ever tried to bite me. Nor 
do I imagine one would unless it was pinched or 
tortured. They are not in the least vindictive 
like bees and wasps. In fact, it is pretty well- 
established now that we have only one spider in 
North America that is at all harmful. This is 
