iv] MENTAL POWERS OF SPIDERS 23 



that it had apparently learnt was that an attack on a 

 particular fish resulted in a violent blow on the nose. 

 Some degree of intelligence must be conceded to the 

 pike, but it can hardly be considered of a high 

 order. 



Now the garden-spider possesses eight eyes, and 

 might be expected to see fairly well, but the ex- 

 perimenter will very soon come to the conclusion that 

 the habitual use it makes of them at all events in 

 day-light is very slight. Touch a web with a vibrat- 

 ing tuning-fork and the spider will rush to the spot 

 and investigate the instrument with its fore-legs 

 before distinguishing it from a fly. Remember, how- 

 ever, that this is only true of what are sometimes 

 called sedentary spiders ; species which hunt their 

 prey have much better vision. Yet even among 

 sedentary spiders the power of sight is not negligible, 

 for a most trustworthy observer states that he has 

 several times seen Meta segmentata, a very common 

 small Epeirid, drop from its web to secure an insect 

 on the ground beneath, and return with it by way of 

 the drop line, and the same action has been observed 

 in the case of Theridion, which spins an irregular 

 snare. 



There are peculiar difficulties attending experi- 

 ments on the subject of hearing. An absolutely deaf 

 person may be aAvare of the sounding of a deep organ 

 note through the sense of feeling, and a well-known 



