The Life of the Spider 



Silky Epeira, both of whom live on the rose- 

 maries in the enclosure, shall show us in broad 

 daylight the innermost details of the tragedy. 



I myself place on the lime-snare a victim of 

 my selecting. Its six legs are caught without 

 more ado. If the insect raises one of its tarsi 

 and pulls towards itself, the treacherous 

 thread follows, unwinds slightly and, without 

 letting go or breaking, yields to the captive's 

 desperate jerks. Any limb released only 

 tangles the others still more and is speedily 

 recaptured by the sticky matter. There is no 

 means of escape, except by smashing the trap 

 with a sudden effort whereof even powerful 

 insects are not always capable. 



Warned by the shaking of the net, the 

 Epeira hastens up; she turns round about the 

 quarry; she inspects it at a distance, so as to 

 ascertain the extent of the danger before 

 attacking. The strength of the snareling will 

 decide the plan of campaign. Let us first 

 suppose the usual case, that of an average head 

 of game, a Moth or Fly of some sort. 

 Facing her prisoner, the Spider contracts her 

 abdomen slightly and touches the insect for a 

 moment with the end of her spinnerets; then, 

 with her front tarsi, she sets her victim 



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