The Life of the Spider 



ployed. With a quick movement, the Spider 

 herself turns round about the motionless in- 

 sect, crossing the web first at the top and then 

 at the bottom and gradually placing the fasten- 

 ings of her line. The great elasticity of the 

 lime-threads allows the Epeira to fling herself 

 time after time right into the web and to pass 

 through it without damaging the net. 



Let us now suppose the case of some danger- 

 ous game : a Praying Mantis, for instance, 

 brandishing her lethal limbs, each hooked and 

 fitted with a double saw; an angry Hornet, 

 darting her awful sting; a sturdy Beetle, 

 invincible under his horny armour. These 

 are exceptional morsels, hardly ever known to 

 the Epeirae. Will they be accepted, if supplied 

 by my stratagems? 



They are, but not without caution. The 

 game is seen to be perilous of approach and 

 the Spider turns her back upon it, instead of 

 facing it; she trains her rope-cannon upon it. 

 Quickly, the hind-legs draw from the spin- 

 nerets something much better than single 

 cords. The whole silk-battery works at one 

 and the same time, firing a regular volley of 

 ribbons and sheets, which a wide movement of 

 the legs spreads fan-wise and flings over the 



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