The Life of the Spider 



more numerous circles. She starts from the 

 base of the auxiliary spiral, near the frame. 



What follows is difficult to observe, for the 

 movements are very quick and spasmodic, 

 consisting of a series of sudden little rushes, 

 sways and bends that bewilder the eye. It 

 needs continuous attention and repeated 

 examination to distinguish the progress of the 

 work however slightly. 



The two hind-legs, the weaving imple- 

 ments, keep going constantly. Let us name 

 them according to their position on the work- 

 floor. I call the leg that faces the centre of 

 the coil, when the animal moves, the 'inner 

 leg;' the one outside the coil the 'outer leg.' 



The latter draws the thread from the spin- 

 neret and passes it to the inner leg, which, 

 with a graceful movement, lays it on the 

 radius crossed. At the same time, the first 

 leg measures the distance; it grips the last coil 

 placed in position and brings within a suitable 

 range that point of the radius whereto the 

 thread is to be fixed. As soon as the radius 

 is touched, the thread sticks to it by its own 

 glue. There are no slow operations, no 

 knots: the fixing is done of itself. 



Meanwhile, turning by narrow degrees, 



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