SPIDERS. 355 



took the nest out, under the notion that it might con- 

 tain eggs; but we found none, and therefore conclude 

 that it was onlj used as a day retreat.* The account 

 which Evelyn has given of these hunting-spiders is 

 so interesting, that we must transcribe it. 



" Of all sorts of insects," says, he, " there is none 

 has afforded me more divertisement than the vena- 

 tores (hunters), which are a sort of lujn (wolves) that 

 have their dens in rugged walls and crevices of our 

 houses; a small brown and delicately-spotted kind 

 of spiders, whose hinder legs are longer than the 

 rest. Such I did frequently observe at Rome, which, 

 espying a fly at three or four yards distance, upon 

 the balcony where I stood, would not make directly 

 to her, but crawl under the rail, till being arrived to 

 the antipodes, would steal up, seldom missing its 

 aim; but if it chanced to want any thing of being 

 perfectly opposite, would, at first peep, immediately 

 slide down again, — till, taking better notice, it would 

 come the next time exactly upon the fly's back: but 

 if this happened not to be within a competent leap, 

 then would this insect move so softly, as the very 

 shadow of the gnomon seemed not to be more im- 

 perceptible, unless the fly moved; and then would 

 the spider move also in the same proportion, keeping 

 that just time with her motion, as if the same soul 

 had animated both these little bodies; and whether 

 it were forwards, backwards, or to either side, with- 

 out at all turning her body, like a well managed horse: 

 but if the capricious fly took wing and pitched upon 

 another place behind our huntress, then would the 

 spider whirl its body so nimbly about, as nothing 

 could be imagined more swift: by which means she 

 always kept the head towards her prey, though to 

 appearance, as immoveable as if it had been a nail 



*J. R. 



