Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-01-17


had also brought letters Of coincidence
from men of eminence OF our own and
other nationalities, to whom the death
of spider, and such a spider, was a
deplorable event. On the occasion ot
a visit in late autumn, Mrs. Treat was
manifesting great enthusiasm over a
tent-building spider which had finish
ed off a queer little triangular edlfice
under the edge of the table, dainty,
gausv affair, more rare than but not
as beautiful as the orb-weaver's struct
ure. Another busy worker had struck
his tent under shelter of big leaf,
were the least touch would apparently
be like an earth quake among such
fairy-like formations; and l-who had
ruthlessly demolished many a fragile
structure by vigorous stroke OF
broom - found myself involuntarily
walking about on tip-toe and speaking
in hushed tones while making sur
vey of these dainty specimens of spi-
der-crochet. Certainly it is generous
house mistress who not only offers
these little creatures building spots
rent free, but helps them to the
choicest nooks for nesting. A lover of
spider kind like Mrs Treat might find
opportunity to study antiquities in
web-weaving by going into certain
old curiosity shop which | explored in
San Francisco not long ago "Not a
cobweb has been removed, not a spi-
der's nest disturbed for twenty odd
years." proudly asserted the gray old
proprietor of the years accumulated
dust, and of the strange birds and
monkeys; and then he added, plaintive-
ly, Eyes, there were three that were
brushed down somehow. | was sorry
to loose them" 1t looked as if many
generations of spider families had
found occupancy there and all the
tribes of spiderdom had been engaged
in spinning fresco.
"Here is a gift which came from the
North, Mrs Treat said, holding up
a pretty gray cocoon that looked like
soft woven silk attached to the foliage
ends of some dry grasses, the whole
snugly packed in box, like jewel
in its case and sent by mail This holds
the eggs of a different species. |
shall put it in the sunshine to hatch,
and by-and-by, when the baby spiders
issue from the cocoon, | shall have an
excellent opportunity to study them as
they are growing up. | get a great
many specimens from New Hamp
shire put up in wooden boxes and
bottles spiders, nests and cocoons,
some have their houses sent with
them; and others build when they
reach here"
A little tray was next set out for
the contents of which
were very interesting, as they con-
sisted of nests of various construction
brought from the spiders outdoor
haunts. They were of surprisingly
beautiful workmanship, and their style
of architecture is as varied as heautl-
full. Il have seen even a naturalist
search plat over and over for long
time for one Of these rests" Mrs.
Treat continued, "and then failed to
find it, although | confined him to a
space of but few inches, so cunning
ly are they interviewer among the
Various materials are used
in their composition-fne sticks, moss,
dry oak leaves, blades Of grass and cot
ton. In some the tiny sticks, an inch
or moIe long are piled up in real log
house fashion and hidden away
among the moss heads, like q toy
bouse In a mimic forest. Others
dwell in a rolled leaf held together
with stitches. A little to one side
in the rear of the cottage, a large
circular plat is enclosed by an ar
Dor vitae hedge, so compact that
only ants and spiders can pass in at
random. A narrow gateway lets the
into this enclosure In the
centre a fine maple tree offers shade
in summer; BIRDS baths are scattered
about, seats are at the disposal of such
favored visitors as are allowed to
invade the privacy of the Insect
as the spot is called Mrs.
Treat speaks enthusiastically of the
mats of English violets that stud the
sod in spring, and of the tall ferns
that shoot their fronds through the
evergreen wall 1t is bleak and de-
serted now; the spiders which spun
their white tents and hung their
q gossamer patterns all alo Dg the arms
of the trees and from tip to tip
across the hedge rows, have disap
peared in the depths and closed the
doors of their burrows upon them.
The birds know that they are well
come and their merry twttering5
is heard all day long. In autumn a
small forest of pokeberries was allow
ed to ripen its fruit under the cot
tage window, the birds coming regu-
larly from their outlying haunts to
get their daily rations. When frost
fell the remaining crop was harvested
and stored in the cellar, and now
each day brings the little pensioners
in hungry broods awaiting to be
fed.
Mrs. Treat gives her whole time
to her work, and her field of study
widens every day, "There is enough
to fill up lifetime if | were to stay
here and watch the small life that
populates my own house and garden. "
she said in reply to a question:
Philadelphia Press.
At recent agricultural exhibition
at Ludenburg, Germany, was exhibit
threshing-machine which was driven
by electricity at the rate of 400 revo-
lutions q minute, and which at the
same time, illumined the enclosure in
which it worked.
AT the eighty-ifth annual Fat Cat
tie Show in Islington, the Queen and
Prince of Wales were among the ex-
hbitors. The Queen won prize of
$50 at the Birmingham Agricultural
Exhibition, and expressed her desire