310 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

that of the ant for its larvee. We once deprived a garden
spider of its eggs, and covered them slightly with earth ;
the animal scampered away for a few feet, and then gathered
up its legs, and lay down as if dead. In a short time,
when all was quiet, it returned to the spot, and searched
round every clod and pellet, till it ultimately discovered the
object of its search, which it gently uncovered, cleaned, en-
veloped with a few rounds of fresh gossamer, and then bore
rapidly away to a secret crevice. The young of some species
are fed for a short while by the parent; but the majority,
we believe, shift for themselves on leaving the envelope, as
they soon arrive at maturity*.” Spiders are strictly carni-
vorous in their habits.

‘We will now visit some of the habitations formed by these
industrious and unique artificers; and first observe the
Garden Spider (Zpeira diadema), one of the most interesting
of the family, both from its own beauty and that of its web.
“Tt is the circular net of this species which we so often see
glittering among the branches of shrubs and trees, formed
with as much art and regularity as the figures adorning
the finest lace-work. The manner in which this net is sus-
pended and stayed on every side, displays even greater in-

* Constable's Miscellany.