SPIDERS. 75 



ranged the spokes, she begins at the center and runs 

 a spiral thread round and round. 



These spiral threads are smooth and dry, and are as 

 far apart as the spider can conveniently reach. They 

 are intended only for a temporary scaffolding to walk 

 upon. Now Epeira begins at the outside or circum- 

 ference of the wheel and works toward the center, 

 carrying round and round a new thread which is wet 

 and sticky, all the while biting away the scaffold be- 

 fore her. Thus she leaves the sticky thread behind 

 her, while she has the smooth, dry one to walk on. 



After all is finished, Madam Epeira builds a silken 

 den for herself to hide in, in some place near by, 

 where she may be secure and at the same time watch 

 her work. A single telephone thread joins the woven 

 net to her den, and upon this line she holds her sen- 

 sitive foot. Should a fly strike any part of the net, 

 she instantly feels the touch, hastens to the spot, and 

 makes the intruder a prisoner, by spinning about its 

 legs and wings a strong rope of silk. Though beauti- 

 ful, it is a certain death-trap for the fly ; and though 

 so elaborate and perfect, it may be constructed in 

 three quarters of an hour. 



All the wonderful work done by the spider is per- 

 formed by the female. The male of some kinds is 

 exceedingly small in comparison ; so much so, that as 

 a certain naturalist calculates, were he a man six feet 

 high and weighing a hundred and fifty pounds, she, 

 supposing her to be a woman, would measure seventy- 

 five feet high and weigh two hundred thousand pounds. 

 Her treatment of her poor, insignificant mate is set 

 forth in the following little poem. 



