[Illustration]


There are many kinds of spiders; some of which are said to grow to such
a size that they will catch small birds: some are poisonous, but the
greater part are harmless, although to most people their looks are
disgusting. The web of a spider, which is a net for catching its prey,
is an astonishing piece of curiosity.




SILK WORM

[Transcriber's Note: The heading 'SILK WORM' was added in order to
improve clarity.]

[Illustration]

The silk worm is a very valuable insect: it is produced from an egg of a
yellowish colour, about the size of a small pin's head, that is laid by
a moth, or butterfly. The above cut represents a male and female, and
her eggs, of which she lays several hundreds: the moths live but a few
days; they never eat, and die directly after the eggs are laid.

[Illustration]

This cut shews the appearance of the worm, which at first is very small
and black. Its food is the leaves of the white mulberry: as it grows in
size, at four different periods, it apparently sickens, and changes its