White. — On a Hwiting Spider. 407 



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not have been detected but for a wire netting of If in. mesh, 

 which was stretched across as a protection to the glass. 

 These cross-wires divided the section of the window into 

 numerous small spaces, and by watching closely for a few 

 seconds it became evident that the creature was gliding 

 slowly forward without any perceptible motion of the limbs. 

 The pair of front legs were of enormous thickness compared 

 with the remaining three pairs, which were those by which it 

 progressed when moving. The very strong thick pair were 

 mostly carried projecting forward, and looked somewhat like 

 a great pair of wide-open nippers, which they in reality were, 

 as the sequel will show. Presently a yellow-bodied blow-fly 

 moved into sight, having been hidden by the woodwork of the 

 window-frame. This kind of fly deposits live maggots on 

 meat, &c., not eggs, as do the larger black flies. This yellow 

 fly I never saw in the South Island of New Zealand during a 

 period of some fifteen years, but on coming to Hawke's Bay 

 they were at once apparent from their undesirable attentions. 

 Have these yellow flies since made their way to the South 

 Island, or are they still absent? 



To continue my story. As the large fly walked onward 

 the spider moved at about the same pace behind it ; on the fly 

 resting the spider became apparently motionless, yet was 

 imperceptibly moving up to its quarry. After some time the 

 space between the two was reduced to about l^in., when the 

 spider made a dart forward and seized the fly with its for- 

 midable pincer-like legs. One arm was across the head of the 

 fly, and the other grasped the tail, or opposite extremity, while 

 it also seemed to be biting or sucking the life- juice of the 

 insect at its waist or narrowest part. The fly made strenuous 

 efforts with its feet to move from the place, but its captor, 

 though of lesser bulk, had also six legs, which took such firm 

 hold of the glass that it remained immovable, other than a 

 slight movement of the fore part of the spider from side to 

 side, and a slight rising upward at times, as if for the purpose 

 of lifting the fly from its feet, or rather hold. I did not stay 

 to see the death of the fly, which was a tedious process, and 

 when I returned shortly both spider and fly had disappeared. 



This stealthy advance, when realised, "gave one the 

 creeps " ; it was like a nightmare, especially when remem- 

 bering that it was allied to so much ferocity and cunning. A 

 comparison might be made of a man clutching a very large 

 sheep or a calf, one hand resting on the head, the other across 

 the rump, the hands not grasping, but the animal being 

 securely held by the inward pressure of the arms, while the 

 man's teeth were employed tearing open the beast's flank, and 

 he greedily sucking the struggling creature's life's blood. 



