PROCURING FOOD AND FEEDING, 257 



back and forward like a group of children upon a seesaw, without being 



the least disturbed. Next morning I found that all the trussed up insects 



except one had disappeared ; one (wliich I easily identified) remained in its 



former position, and even then several of the little Diptera were perched 



upon the carcass, apparently feeding. In the jaws of the spider was a 



swathed carcass, and even on that, as the spider held it within her mouth 



feeding upon it, were at least two of the little flies engaged with 



Flies Ban- ^]jg greatest sang froid at their meal under the very jaws of 



^^ •r'^^ their ferocious adversary! In the meantime a third fly was 

 a Spider. . 



perched upon the middle of the abdomen of the spider herself, 



apparently enjoying the situation. Two days afterward I found the same 

 curious state of things. It may be that the very diminutiveness of these 

 creatures was their protection, especially as food was so abundant. It was 

 certainly amusing, however, to see this seeming challenge of destiny. A 

 few hours thereafter I saw one (or one of the same species) of these reck- 

 less Diptera trussed up near the spot where it had lately fed, although it 

 was probably not eaten. 



The same behavior was subsequently observed on several occasions and 

 on different individuals; so that it was not the result of special sluggish- 

 ness or personal peculiarity. Once, when a dozen or more of these little 

 Diptera were hanging upon an enswathed captive, I saw Argiope brush 

 away with her fore feet several that were crowding about her face. The 

 action was most impatient — even angry — but none of the annoying and 

 impudent intruders were hurt. On another occasion I observed two of the 

 flies apparently held in the jaws of the spider. My first thought was that 

 they had ventured too close, had been snapped up, and were being eaten 

 by their giant hostess. But upon touching the point of my pencil to them, 

 they at once disproved my theory by drawing back a little space and shak- 

 ing themselves. They had not oidy ventured between Argiope's palps, but 

 had pushed up to the very jaws, and were sipping the juices squeezed out 

 by those organs! It was certainly a curious illustration of the old and 

 famous riddle, " out of the eater came forth meat." (See Fig. 237.) I had 

 never expected to see the spider and tlie flies peacefully feeding together 

 upon the same carcass, but in nature, as in social life, it is often " the un- 

 expected that happens." 



II. 



The efforts of spiders to take their prey are not destitute of adven- 

 tures, sometimes of a very serious sort, sometimes approaching the ludi- 

 crous. For example, I chanced to get a sight of Argiope coi)h- 

 , . , , inaria just as she had captured a large honey bee and had 

 begun to swathe it. I watched the struggles of the insect with 

 interest, and found that the s})ider got the better of her antagonist very 

 rapidly. Around and around the excited bee the swathing bands wound, 



