80 SPIDERS [CH. 



as though for the purpose of obtaining a wider 

 view. 



We may have to wait long before we see it 

 successful in the chase. It will often patiently 

 explore a large area, testing the surface with its palps 

 as it goes, without any obvious reward. It con- 

 scientiously searches all depressions and crannies, 

 and, sometimes remains in them for a considerable 

 time perhaps to devour some minute creature 

 which did not call into play its special methods of 

 attack. At last it sights a small insect which has 

 alighted on the fence a few inches away ; we see 

 it turn its head in that direction and remain motion- 

 less. Soon it begins to edge nearer in a stealthy 

 manner, striving to approach its prey from behind, 

 till, with a sudden spring, it pounces on its back. 

 Not always is the spring successful ; often the insect 

 sees its peril at the last moment and takes to wing. 

 But in this case, how does the spider avoid a fall ? 

 We see, what we had not noticed before, that it is 

 anchored to the fence by a silken line ; indeed all 

 the time it has been hunting it has been trailing 

 behind it an exceedingly fine thread of silk which 

 it has attached at frequent intervals to the fence, so 

 that it can check its fall at will in the case of accident. 

 At the right angle, we may see the delicate filaments 

 glistening in the sun over the surface of its explora- 

 tions. The garden-spider entangles its prey in a web, 



