The Life of the Spider 



which I have mentioned — I thought that I 

 must attack her by main force and pursue her 

 relentlessly in order to capture her; I spent 

 whole hours in opening up the trench with 

 a knife a foot long by two inches wide, with- 

 out meeting the Tarantula. I renewed the 

 operation in other burrows, always with the 

 same want of success; I really wanted a pick- 

 axe to achieve my object, but I was too far 

 from any kind of house. I was obliged to 

 change my plan of attack, and I resorted to 

 craft. Necessity, they say, is the mother of 

 invention. 



'It occurred to me to take a stalk, topped 

 with its spikelet, by way of a bait, and to 

 rub and move it gently at the orifice of the 

 burrow. I soon saw that the Lycosa's at- 

 tention and desires were roused. Attracted 

 by the bait, she came with measured steps 

 towards the spikelet. I withdrew it in good 

 time a little outside the hole, so as not to 

 leave the animal time for reflexion; and the 

 Spider suddenly, with a rush, darted out of 

 her dwelling, of which I hastened to close 

 the entrance. The Tarantula, bewildered by 

 her unaccustomed liberty, was very awkward 

 in evading my attempts at capture; and I com- 



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