ANNA. The webs of spiders are very various, are they not?

PAPA.-Yes; there is a great variety of them. Each different species forms its toils in a somewhat different manner. You are not to suppose that all spiders' webs are equally fragile with those you see in this part of the world. I have read that the spiders of Bermudas spin webs between trees forty or fifty feet distant, which are strong enough to ensnare a bird as large as a thrush; and Sir G. Staunton informs us, that in the forests of Java, spiders' webs are to be found of so strong a texture as to require a sharp cutting instrument to divide them.

ANNA.-I suppose all spiders form some kind of web or net.

PAPA. All have the power of spinning, but they do not all avail themselves of it in procuring food. Some, which Walckenaer in his work on spiders has named vagrants, obtain their prey by stratagem; they conceal themselves in a little cell formed of the rolledup leaf of a plant, or in a hole in a wall, or behind a stone, and thence dart upon unwary insects; and sometimes, like the cat in the fable, they pretend to be dead, in order to tempt their heedless prey to come within their reach. Another tribe which may properly be denominated hunters, openly search for and seize their prey, and when taken, convey it to their subterranean dens, where they devour it. You perhaps know that an attempt was once made to produce silk from garden spiders. M. Bon, of Languedoc, about a hundred years ago, contrived to manufacture from their bags a pair of silk stockings and mittens. They were of a beautiful natural grey colour, and almost as strong and as handsome as those made of common silk; but it was found that the manufacture could not be carried on to any extent, for the work of twelve spiders was found not equal to more than that of one silk-worm; and they were so exceedingly ferocious, that it was im

possible to keep any number of them together. Four or five thousand being distributed into cells, fifty into some, one or two hundred into others, the larger ones soon killed and ate the less; so that in a short time there were scarcely two left together in any of the cells.

ANNA. I suppose their disposition to each other, is the reason that there are so few spiders.

PAPA. I have no doubt that it is, for they lay a vast number of eggs.

ANNA. Did not you say, papa, that the silk was made from the bag of the spider-is that the same as the web?

PAPA. No, my dear. The bag is the cone which the female spins for the reception of her eggs-you have often seen them, I dare say, in sheltered secure corners. They are little yellowish balls, something like those of the silk-worm, only a great deal smaller.

ANNA. I think I know what you mean, papa: : I

remember mama once shewed me one in the microscope it was full of young spiders.

:

Z. Z.

DESCRIPTION OF BRITISH TREES.
No. XV.

Yew Tree-Taxus.

THIS tree, more wanting of utility than most others, has been connected by tradition with many marvellous adventures; and in some instances charged with mischiefs it does not seem qualified to perpetrate-modern botanists considering no part of it poisonous, but the leaves.

"The berries are sweet and viscid. Children eat them in large quantities without inconvenience. The fresh leaves are fatal to the human species. Three children were killed by a spoonful of the green, leaves. The same quantity of the dried leaves had been given the day before, without any effect."WITHERING.

Taxus, the Yew-since the use of bows is laid aside amongst us, the propagation of this tree is quite forborne. But the neglect is to be deplored; seeing that the barrenest grounds, and coldest of our mountains might be profitably replenished with it. I say profitably, for besides the use of the wood for bows, the artists in box, inlayers, and cabinet-makers most gladly employ it; and in Germany they wainscot their stores with boards of this material, for the cogs of mills, posts to be set in moist grounds, and everlasting axle-trees, there is none to be compared with it. It is likewise used for the bodies of lutes, theorboes, bowls, wheels, and pins for pulleys; yea, for tankards to drink out of."-EVELYN.

There are many stories of persons poisoned by the fruit, and by drinking out of the wood, recorded in Pliny and elsewhere; but probably it was of some other tree, mistaken for Yew by modern historians; though some idea of its baneful effects probably gave rise to the ancient practice of wearing garlands of it at funerals.

"The best reason that can be given why the yew was planted in church-yards, is, that branches of it were always carried in procession on Palm sunday, instead of Palms. The following extract from Ouxton's directions for keeping feasts all the year, is decisive as to this custom. In the lecture for Palm Sunday, he says, "wherefore Holy Church this day maketh solemn procession, in mind of the procession that Christ made this day. But for in casen that we have none Olive that beareth green leaf, algate therefore we take Ewe instead of Palm or Olive, and bear about in procession; and so is this day called Palm Sunday." As a confirmation of this fact, the Yewtrees in the church-yards of East Kent, are at this day called Palms." -HUNTER.

"A story is related by Mr. Camden, of a certain priest, that falling in love with a maid who refused his addresses, cut off her head, which being hung upon a Yew tree till it was rotten, the tree was reputed sacred, not only whilst the virgin's head hung on it, but as long as the tree itself lasted; to which the people went in pilgrimage, plucking and bearing away branches of it, as a holy relique, whilst there remained any of the trunk: persuading themselves, that those small fine reins and filaments, resembling hairs, between the bark and the body of the tree, were the hairs of the virgin: but what is yet stranger, the resort to this place, then called Houton, a despicable village, occasioned the building of the now famous town of Halifax, in Yorkshire, which imports Holy Hair. By this, and the like, we may estimate what a world of impostures have, through craft and superstition, gained the repute of holy places, abounding with rich oblations."-EVELYN.

In the days of Archery, so great was the demand for the wood of the Yew-tree, that the merchants were obliged by statute to import four staves of it for every ૨

VOL. VII.