The Delta independent., 1890-01-21
NEW NATURAL HISTORY.
The Spider and the Fly Socially
and lntelleCtually,

ho SptoSE anu IIS FIy SoSldlly
and intellectually.
The spider is an animal OF the fami-
ly araneida, while the fly is only an
insect Musca domestica is the class
ical name by which etomologists and
other big-headed bipeds know him.
but the single word fly is suggestive
enough to people with an ordinary
single-decked brain. The fly is ma
tive OF every civilized and uncivilized
country on the globe. or all aaimat-
ed beings the common house fly seems
to have the smallest share of every
dny common sense. His one object
in life seems to be to feed, and OF that
pleasant occupation he seldom grows
weary. He is not in the least bit par
ticular Us to how the table is set or
what kind OF dish you happen to give
him, so that he has plenty.
The ordinary fly can't distinguish be-
tween a fiy-trap and a bee e-hive, and
doesn't know the difference between
arsenic and wheat flour. He will eat
any thing, dead or alive, from baked
dog to raw crow, but seems to be
especially fond OF sweets, and can eat
between meals such things as sugar
plums, ice-cream, molasses candy and
corn salve without a single cramp
or symptom of dyspepsia. A fly
wants; plenty OF light, and will even
desert his dinner to seek it if the room
be darkened. The fly belongs to very
numerous family, and the killing of a
few thousands seems to make no ap-
preciable difference in their numbers.
He lives only for to-day, and never
stores any thing away for future use, as
he is quite content to take things as he
finds them, and no doubt believes man
To be made especially for his use.
Every fly is tramp, and each lives as
best he can off the general public, and
in a general way they make out better
than the average tramp. perhaps on
account OF their having wings.
The spider is very curious little
animal, and, although he has no wings
and can not fly, yet he is classed high
err than the fly because he feeds mostly
on them. The spider when intrenched
in his own home is not afraid of any
thing, living or dead, and should n
beetle five times its size, or even a
snake become entangled in his web, he
doesn't hesitate to go out to it and
make an attempt to further secure it
The spider carries life-preserver
with him all the time, consisting OF an
immense coil OF elastic rope. with the
necessary machinery to work it. In
case of fro he can, with this contriv-
ance, instantly let himself down from
the top floor OF his dwelling, and If the
alarm SHOULD prove to be false one
he can use the same rope to conven-
iently hoist himself up again. In
constructing his web he is quite inde-
pendent OF hired help or alien labor,
and not only does the work Of construc-
ton himself, but also manufactures all
OF the raw material he uses. In poll
tics he is high tariff protectionist, and
uses only home manufactured products.
Every spider is the proud possessor OF
a domicile OF his own, none of them
ever becoming tramps. Their chief
occupation is the manufacture OF nets
and the trapping of game. Many Of
them become expert trappers and all
excel as rope e-makers. Socially he is
a miser and recluse, seldom going
abroad, but always at home to receive
company.
The spider is methodical in his hab-
its and attends strictly to business.
He never puts off until tomorrow what
can be done to day. The spider, although
not criminal, commits grave error
in the eating of the nasty fly. and finds
some way OF purifying him before
lunching on him. He has the instincts
OF an artist and his web is deftly woven
geometrical in form and pleasing to
the eye; knows all .the ropes" and
keeps himself in daily practice. To
see him swinging at the end of long
silken web, looking symmetrical as a
bullet, he seems to be dancing horn
pipe on the ragged edge Of nothing;
but although he may seem to be anus
ing himself, in reality he is manufac-
turing and carefully testing that coil OF
elastic web. WHICH he keeps so mystic
riously concealed in his little round