ORANGE ARGIOPE 



Standing thus at gaze upon the masterly way in 

 which our aranead gets her food, one admires not only 

 the tremendous energy of the animal, but the rare 

 efficiency of the instruments with which she works. 

 To begin with, there is her wide-spread net, with its 

 radiating lines and spiral infiUing. It covers at least 





A SECTION OF A DEW-LADEN ORBWEB 



four square feet of surface, and any insect vaulting or 

 in flight that shall strike it must surely be halted. In 

 the momentary pause and shock of its arrest, even if 

 not entangled, it gives the skilful operator the oppor- 

 tunity to seize it. 



But that is not all. Look more carefully at these 



249 



