212 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



wiw, except that it is spun on the opposite part of the 

 snare. Thus, returning to our first figure (Fig. 71), 

 she will start from H down the diameter a c to tlie line 

 m n, dragging after her, as before, a loose thread which 

 slic tiglitens, fastens liere at 11, and thus gets her second 

 radius. Hence, she will make tlic radii II i, H m, 

 HI), and so on, around the circle." 



"I notice," said Hugh, "that 30U have drawn those 

 spokes alternately. That is, you put one on this side 

 ahove, and the next on the other side below. That 

 looks mighty workman-like, sir, jist as though a 

 mechanic had laid it out. I've done a good deal in tin- 

 keriu' at carpentry myself, and ef I were building that 

 kind uv a concern with lumber, or rope, either, I reckon 

 that'sjitst the way I'd set to work. Does the spider 

 go at it in. that judgmatical style, or is it only your way 

 uv put tin' it to us ?" 



" I am glad you raised that point yourself/' I replied, 

 " for I had intended to notice it. The spider invariably 

 puts in her radii in that manner, laying them by what 

 I have called alternate apposition. I will illustrate this 

 bv another figure. 1 once watched an orb-weaver 

 throughout this part of her spinning-work, and drew 

 out my note-l)0()k and numbered the radii as they were 

 made. Before it occurred to me to do this, the lines 

 A, B and D had been spun. The others were ]ilaced in, 

 in about the following order : First, III (Fig. 7?>) ; then, 

 on the opposite, TI2. Next, again opposite, you see, 

 113, and after that 114. 5 and 0, 7 nnd S. and 10. and 

 so on through all the seventeen radii wliich I counted. 



