The Life of the Spider 



fell in ! The village could be blown up with 

 dynamite, without her losing her head for 

 such a trifle. She would calmly go on with 

 her web. 



Let us return to the Spider manufacturing 

 her net under the usual tranquil conditions. 

 The great spiral has been finished, abruptly, 

 on the confines of the resting-floor. The 

 central cushion, a mat of ends of saved 

 thread, is next pulled up and eaten. But, be- 

 fore indulging in this mouthful, which closes 

 the proceedings, two Spiders, the only two of 

 the order, the Banded and the Silky Epeira, 

 have still to sign their work. A broad, white 

 ribbon is laid, in a thick zigzag, from the 

 centre to the lower edge of the orb. Some- 

 times, but not always, a second band of the 

 same shape and of lesser length occupies the 

 upper portion, opposite the first. 



I like to look upon these odd flourishes as 

 consolidating-gear. To begin with, the young 

 Epeirae never use them. For the moment, 

 heedless of the future and lavish of their silk, 

 they remake their web nightly, even though 

 it be none too much dilapidated and might 

 well serve again. A brand-new snare at sun- 

 set is the rule with them. And there is little 



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