The Labyrinth Spider 



the large cabin and to that of the central 

 chamber, so much so that the texture, which 

 at first was translucent gauze, becomes opaque 

 satin. The walls never seem thick enough; 

 the Spider is always working at them. To 

 satisfy this lavish expenditure, she must inces- 

 santly, by means of feeding, fill her silk-glands 

 as and when she empties them by spinning. 

 Food is the means whereby she keeps the inex- 

 haustible factory going. 



A month passes; and, about the middle of 

 September, the little ones hatch, but without 

 leaving their tabernacle, where they are to 

 spend the winter packed in soft wadding. 

 The mother continues to watch and spin, 

 lessening her activity from day to day. She 

 recruits herself with a Locust at longer inter- 

 vals; she sometimes scorns those whom I my- 

 self entangle in her trap. This increasing 

 abstemiousness, a sign of decrepitude, slackens 

 and at last stops the work of the spinnerets. 



For four or five weeks longer, the mother 

 never ceases her leisurely inspection-rounds, 

 happy at hearing the new-born Spiders swarm- 

 ing in the wallet. At length, when October 

 ends, she clutches her offspring's nursery and 

 dies withered. She has done all that maternal 



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