ned with
a magnifying-glass, it will be seen that its threads are closely
studded with minute globules of gum, which is so sticky that flies
caught in the web are held in this kind of birdlime until the spider is
able to spring upon them.

Astronomers and microscopists make use of the strongest lines of the
spider's web to form some of their delicate instruments. The thread is
drawn in parallel lines at right angles across the field of the
eye-piece at equal distances, so as to make a multitude of fine
divisions, scarcely visible to the naked eye, and so thin as to be no
obstacle to the view of the object. One means of classifying spiders is
by the number of eyes they possess. These are usually two, six, or eight
in number. The fangs with which the spider seizes its prey are hollow,
and emit a venomous fluid into the body of the victim, which speedily
benumbs and kills it. In Palestine and other countries a kind of spider
is found which is entirely nocturnal in its habits, and never either
hunts or feeds in daylight, but makes itself a little home, where it
abides safely till sunset. It is called the trap-door spider, from the
curious way in which it protects the entrance to its nest. It bores a
hole in the dry earth of a bank a foot or more in depth, lines the hole
with silk, and forms a lid, or trap-door, which secures the spider from
all intruders. I have one of these nests in which the door is a
wonderful piece of mechanism, quite round and flat, about as large as a
threepenny piece, made of layers of fine earth moistened and worked
together with silk, so that it is tough and elastic and cannot crumble.
The hinge is made of very tough silk, and is so springy that when opened
it closes directly with a snap. The outside is disguised with bits of
moss, glued on so that no one can see where the door is. The only way of
opening it is with a pin, and even then the spider will hold on inside
with his claws, so that it is not easy to overcome his resistance.
Amongst some insects sent to me from Los Angelos is a huge "Mygale," a
hairy monster of very uninviting aspect. When its legs are outspread it
measures nearly six inches across, and one can well believe the stories
one hears of its killing small birds if it finds them on their nests. A
gentleman living in Bermuda is said to have tamed a spider of the
species "Mygale," and made it live upon his bed-curtain and rid him of
the flies and mosquitoes which disturbed his night