The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-16
For the Central Presbyterian.
A Story of a Spider.

the bright-plumed birds, or the numer-
Gus insects constantly about the very
doors of our Southern homes? To me
nothing of this kind is more interesting
than to watch animal or insect life.
Ona quiet Sunday morning, when thick
clouds yelled the sun, shutting off his
bright rays, and when there was scarce
ly breeze enough to stir the blades and
tassels on the tall corn in the garden,
took stroll about the place waiting for
the little ones to be dressed for Sunday
School.
In the corner of an old clubhouse l
CHANGED to see spiders nest and web
it was inhabited by two or three little
creatures, differing in size, but none of
them larger than an English pea. l took
the two largest spiders to be male and
female. They had their little egg-depos-
itory well up in the top of the structure,
which had numerous stays or spider
ropes stretched in all directions, several
of them to the floor. Presently COM
mon corn-worm fell to the floor from
above, where it had crawled, and as it
fell it touched one of the floor stays !;
quick as thought the biggest spider de-
scended its ladder to discover who thus
dared to invade its premises, but the
worm-a great ugly creature, with many
feet, and of about an inch in length,
weighing perhaps 90 to % times the
weight of the spider-crawled away rap
idly up the walls of the house. l went
off, but returned In few moments to
find that the spider had captured the
worm, and had thrown around it and
fastened several coils of the tiny ropes to
the tail OF the worm, and there the worm
was suspended, having been raised from
the floor either by sheer strength, or by
some pully arrangement. There was
great commotion; the spider was much
excited; it descended rapidly every few
seconds and bit or stung the worm, and
at the same time continued to spin and
fasten its cords about the worm. 1t is
said by Leeuwenhoek, the naturalist, that
it takes four millions of threads or strands
to make filament the size of human
hair, yet each one seems to have very
considerable strength.
At every descent of his enemy the
worm, now dashed to fury, and smarting
under. the bites of the spider, would
throw himself completely around and
fight at the spider-at the same time try
ing hard to break away from the meshes
which were being strengthened around it.
The spider evidently feared that it
might be struck with the ugly horny-ike
head of the worm, for he would no sooner
infict blow than he would rapidly run
away up the ladder of the spider house,
but would as often return After many
unsuccessful efforts the worm made an
other great lunge with its body, at the
same time biting at the coils with. it's
mouth; this was too much for the meshes
and they gaze 10ay, the worm falling to
the floor. The spider was now more ex-
cited than ever,-it first ran up to tell
the sad news to its mate, and to get her
aid Cf it was Mrs. spider who was up
near the eggs, as we would naturally sup
pose)-but Mrs. spider evidently did not
care to participate in this fight, and she
positively refused to 90 DOM the ladder to
help attack this great dragon-like worm.
Mr.. spider still persisted and I regret to
say SO far forgot his duty as a gentle and
loving husband, that he attempted to
force Mrs. spider down the ladder, and
there was on this Sunday morning an
ugly family quarrel But if, as some
naturalists insist, the female is the larger
and more ferocious of the pair, even to
the extent Of devouring the male, then
perhaps it was Mrs. spider who was re-
gponsible for this family quarrel, and
who carried on such battle with the
worm The larger spider then quickly
went to the floor, the worm was making
off but the spider evidently could not
see it. We are told by nsturalists again
that some spiders have six or eight eyes
but if this one had so many, or even tloo
eyes, they were Of little service, for it
saw not, but putting ont its long feel
ers it felt around for the worm in circle,
much as a hound or pointer would do in
trying to recover lost trail But the
worm got further off, and the spider Civ
ing up the search returned up the ladder.
But presently it again saw the worm, and
again it few down and attacked it. A
fierce fight ensued the chances seemed to
be favoring the worm, but the spider was
all the while coiling its ropes around the
worm, when it seemed to be utterly ex-