The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

SILKEN MATERIAL OF THE SPIDER. 173
Lght. When she had cleared off all the sooted hnes, she began
to replace them in the usual way ; but the arrival of the boat
at Mentz put an end to our observations." Bloomfiekl, the
poet, having observed the disappearance of these bits of ravelled
web, says that he observed a garden spider mointen the pellets
before swallowing them ! Dr. Lister, as we have already seen,
thought the spider retracted the threads within the abdomen.
" I could wish," says Addison, in ' The Spectator,' " our Royal Society would
compile a body of natural history, the best that could be gathered together from
books and observations. If the several writers among them took each his partic-
ular species, and gave us a distinct account of its original, birth, and education;
its policies, hostilities, and alliances ; with the frame and texture of its inward and
outward parts,—and particularly those which distinguish it from all other animals,
—with their aptitudes for the state of being in which Providence has placed them ;
it would be one of the best sendees their studies could do mankind, and not a little
redound to the glory of the All-wise Creator."—' Spectator,' No. iii.
Although we do not consider Addison as a naturalist, in any of the usual mean-
ings of the term, yet it would be no easy task, even for those who have devoted their
undivided attention to the subject, to improve upon the admirable i)lan of study here
laid down. It is, moreover, so especially applicable to the investigation of insects,
that it may be more or less put in practice by any person who chooses, in whatever
station or circiunstances he happens to be placed. Nay, we will go farther : for
since it agrees with experience and many recorded instances that individuals have
been enabled to investigate and elucidate particular facts, who were quite unacquaint-
ed with systematic natural history, we hold it to be undeniable, that any person of
moderate penetration, though altogether unacquainted with what is called "Natu-
ral History," who will take the trouble to observe particular facts and endeavor to
trace them to their causes, has every chance to bo successful in adding to his own
knowledge, and frequently in making discoveries of what was previously unknown.
It is related of M. Pdlissan, while a prisoner in the Bastille, that he tamed a spi-
der by means of music. This in conjunction with Evelyn's observations on hunt-
ing-spiders is strong prool' of our position, and show that though books are often
of high value to guide us in our observations, they are by no means indispensable
to the study of nature, masmuch as the varied scene of creation itself forms an.
inexhau.stiblo book, which " even he who runneth may read."
" It will be of the utmost importance, in the study hero recommended, to bear
in mind that an insect can never be found in any situation, nor make any move-
ment, without some motive, originating in the instinct imparted to it by Provi-
dence. This principle alone, when it is made the basis of inquiry into euch mo-
tives or instinct^; will be found productive of many interesting discoveries, which,
without it, might never be made. With this, indeed, exclusively in view, during
an excursion, and with a little attention and perseverance, every walk—nay,
ever}' step—may lead to delightful and interesting knowledge."— " Ixsect Archi-
tecture," p. 219.