The Life of the Spider 



which the prisoners might come and drink, 

 the Labyrinth Spider would at once dispel the 

 idea. She dies a few weeks after her young 

 are hatched; and the children, still locked in 

 their satin bed-chamber for the best part of 

 the year, are none the less active. 



Can it be that they derive sustenance from 

 the silken wrapper? Do they eat their 

 house? The supposition is not absurd, for 

 we have seen the Epeirae, before beginning a 

 new web, swallow the ruins of the old. But 

 the explanation cannot be accepted, as we 

 learn from the Lycosa, whose family boasts 

 no silky screen. In short, it is certain that the 

 young, of whatever species, take absolutely 

 no nourishment. 



Lastly, we wonder whether they may 

 possess within themselves reserves that come 

 from the egg, fatty or other matters the 

 gradual combustion of which would be trans- 

 formed into mechanical force. If the ex- 

 penditure of energy were of but short dura- 

 tion, a few hours or a few days, we could 

 gladly welcome this idea of a motor viaticum, 

 the attribute of every creature born into the 

 world. The chick possesses it in a high degree : 

 it is steady on its legs, it moves for a little 



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