Other kinds of spiders are protected in the same way by resembling different kinds of things, which are not good to eat, and as, in this way, they are saved not only from ants, but from all sorts of other creatures, as well,—from all those, for instance, that prey upon ants—this seems to me a much better kind of disguise. One of these spiders lives in Madagascar, and has the most peculiar-shaped body that one can imagine. At the top it runs up into a sort of pyramid, starting from a rounded base and being higher at one side than another, whilst round about it there are several smaller pyramids, or spikey protuberances, quite babies compared to the large one. On a table, perhaps, or in that horrid thing, a cabinet, it might be difficult to say what this spider was intended to look like, but when it sits motionless, according to its habit, on the branch of a tree, it is impossible to distinguish it from one of those woody knots which often form themselves on the bark, and which the eye rests on without particularly noticing. Another kind, common in Wisconsin, lives upon the cedar trees, which are a common feature—and a very picturesque one—of the country. They are covered with lichens, and so much does this spider, in its coloration and markings, resemble a lichen, itself, that when it sits still amongst them the eye is unable to pick it out from its surroundings. But all this is as nothing compared to a Javanese spider, the whole of whose energies seem bent to make itself into a living facsimile of so mean an object as a bird-dropping. To do this, it lies on its back upon a leaf, over some part of which it has previously spread a film-like web, which itself plays a part in the deception. “Such excreta,” says Mr. Fobes, the discoverer of this wonderful spider, and who was, himself, taken in by it, “consist of a central and denser portion of a pure white chalk-like colour streaked, here and there, with black and surrounded by a thin border of the dried-up, more fluid part.” The filmy web spread irregularly over the leaf, presents this latter appearance, whilst the spider itself, having a chalky-white abdomen and black legs, which, as it lies, are crossed over it, exactly resembles the solid mass in the centre of it. In the previous cases that we have been considering, the resemblance is of a protective nature—this, at least, is what seems more specially aimed at—but here the design is darker and deeper. Many butterflies—creatures typical of beauty generally—as if resolved to carry on the allegory, are accustomed to feed upon ordure. One of them, fluttering through the leaves of the tropical forest, perceives, as she thinks, a rich banquet spread out before her, and descending, in all her radiant and ethereal beauty, to enjoy it, is caught and feasted on herself.