The Life of the Spider 



scaffolding is first run up, at the top of the 

 dome; it consists of a few stretched threads. 

 The wire trellis represents the twigs and the 

 blades of grass which the Spider, if at liberty, 

 would have used as suspension points. The 

 loom works on this shaky support. The 

 Epeira does not see what she is doing; she 

 turns her back on her task. The machinery 

 is so well put together that the whole thing 

 goes automatically. 



The tip of the abdomen sways, a little to 

 the right, a little to the left, rises and falls, 

 while the Spider moves slowly round and 

 round. The thread paid out is single. The 

 hind-legs draw it out and place it in position 

 on that which is already done. Thus is 

 formed a satin receptacle the rim of which is 

 gradually raised until it becomes a bag about 

 a centimeter deep. 1 The texture is of the 

 daintiest. Guy-ropes bind it to the nearest 

 threads and keep it stretched, especially at the 

 mouth. 



Then the spinnerets take a rest and the 

 turn of the ovaries comes. A continuous 

 shower of eggs falls into the bag, which is 

 filled to the top. The capacity of the recep- 



\39 inch. — Translator's Note. 



90 



