DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

Ges) been hatched, after endless care and precaution, the mother has but one thought in her life,—to shield the little ones from danger, and to supply them . with food. An almost touching incident is related by a naturalist who threw a mother and her brood into a basin of water for the purpose of experiment. The mother gathered her young ones under her legs, and kept them above water until death released her from her agony. Spiders are generally timid, and will fly from an enemy, but woe to him if he venture to attack the young ones. Under all circumstances the mother carries them about with her until they are strong enough to provide for themselves. Perhaps the spider whose habits are most amusing is the Jumping Spider, which lives in the crevices of walls and the fissures of trees, and is common in this country. They espy their prey from a dis- tance, and practically stalk it down. They approach it stealthily from behind, until they get within jump- ing distance, when they dart upon it, sometimes from no inconsiderable height. Should they miss their object and fall to the ground, they are never hurt, for in the very act of jumping they spin a thread, which sustains them in ease they fall. But the most interesting spider of all is the | Trapdoor Spider, a species which is not often found in England. Their home is made in dry,