CURIOUS WAYS OF GETTING FOOD. 775 



victim by means of the suckers, thus serving a purpose similar to a 

 harpoon or lasso. As the victim is di*a\vn nearer, the shorter arms 

 wrap around it and effectually prevent its struggles. Now comes in 

 play another instrument, its powerful, horny jaws, which form a beak 

 shaped like a parrot's inverted. With this terrible weapon it bites its 

 victim in the back of the neck, thus cutting the spinal cord and pro- 

 ducing immediate death. 



Fig. 4.— Protruded (Esophagus of a Sea-Wobm. 



How different is the method employed by the Laodicea ! This 

 worm inverts or protrudes its gullet as a sort of proboscis, provided 

 at the end with little teeth for grasping. Like the star-fish, to seize 

 its food, it turns itself inside out. 



Biting insects and most articulates have horny jaws moving hori- 

 zontally. Poison fangs are sometimes added, as in the centiped. The 

 claws of the crab and lobster are transformed legs ; one frequently 

 used as an anchor, while the other holds the prey. 



Every one is familiar with the skillful trap which the spider sets 

 for his victims. This wily creature sometimes builds a concealed lair 

 whence it can spring upon its prey. Others, that spin no web, have a 

 curious fashion of fastening a thread to whatever object they stand 

 on at the instant they pounce on their prey, in order that the victim, 



Fig. 5.— Pit of Ant-Liok. 



which is frequently larger than the spider, may not fly away with its 

 captor. It does fly to the extent of the thread, but the poison soon 

 takes effect, and the cruel spider deliberately winds up its anchor cable 

 and recovers its footing. 



