88 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



a highly viscid fluid, while all the other lines, the 

 radii, the hub, the temporary spiral are non-adherent 

 to the touch. It is that part of the fabric that has the 

 power of capture. The formation of the viscid spiral 

 is a laborious task ; it occupies the spider more time 

 than all the rest of the snare. It is a fine and subtle 

 filament, often continuous from end to end. Every 

 line is parallel, and the whole is a wonderful work of 



FlG. 2. Diagram of the parts of a Geometrical Snare. 



(a) Centre. (d) Radius. 



(b) Hub. (e) Viscid spiral. 



(c) Temporary spiral. (/) Foundation line. 



mathematical beauty and perfection. The spider at 

 length completes its viscid spiral. It anchors the end 

 close to the centre and the snare is finished. 



Such is the construction of the geometrical snare, a 

 work of the most marvellous texture. There are five 

 successive stages in its architecture (see Fig. 2). 



1. The foundation-lines. 



2. The radii. 



3. The hub, 



