The Narbonne Lycosa: The Burrow 



est, I see my captives come up slowly from 

 underground and lean upon the battlements 

 of their woolly castle-keep. They are then 

 really magnificent in their stately gravity. 

 With their swelling belly contained within the 

 aperture, their head outside, their glassy eyes 

 staring, their legs gathered for a spring, for 

 hours and hours they wait, motionless, bath- 

 ing voluptuously in the sun. 



Should a tit-bit to her liking happen to 

 pass, forthwith the watcher darts from her 

 tall tower, swift as an arrow from the bow. 

 With a dagger-thrust in the neck, she stabs 

 the jugular of the Locust, Dragon-fly or 

 other prey whereof I am the purveyor; and 

 she as quickly scales the donjon and retires 

 with her capture. The performance is a 

 wonderful exhibition of skill and speed. 



Very seldom is a quarry missed, provided 

 that it pass at a convenient distance, within 

 the range of the huntress' bound. But, if 

 the prey be at some distance, for instance on 

 the wire of the cage, the Lycosa takes no 

 notice of it. Scorning to go in pursuit, she 

 allows it to roam at will. She never strikes 

 except when sure of her stroke. She achieves 

 this by means of her tower. Hiding behind 



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