136 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



beginning, or will it take up its work where it left off, 

 that is at the eleventh turn ? The spider recovered 

 from its alarm and resumed its work. Without hesi- 

 tation it proceeded to where it had left off. It neg- 

 lected to replace all the ten turns that I had divided. 

 It commenced its work at the eleventh turn, and thus 

 constructed little more than half a snare. It seemed 

 quite contented with the structure, and I have no doubt 

 would have considered it as excellent a snare as it had 

 ever formed. 



That the spider cannot go back on its work still 

 another experiment will show. A snare has just been 

 completed. The viscid spiral has been sealed off and 

 the spider has taken its post at the centre to lie in wait 

 for insects. I divide the whole of the spiral in every 

 segment. The snare now consists of a centre, radii 

 and foundation-lines, but it no longer has a spiral. 

 The force of instinct had just been fulfilled, and I 

 wondered if the spider could start again on its routine 

 and build up a new snare. The spider was unequal 

 to the task. The reflex round was over, and not for 

 twenty-four hours would the spider move to work 

 again. It took up its post amidst the bare diverging 

 radii. I do not believe it even had the power to 

 appreciate that any damage had been done. Till dark 

 I watched it solemnly waiting for insects that were 

 never captured, for the snare no longer had a network. 



Fulfil the predestined plan is the doctrine of a 

 spider's life. Not one can look back upon its woven 

 chain nor retrace the slender links of architecture. 

 The work is done ; it cannot be done again. The 

 snare has vanished ; the naked spokes remain. But 

 to the spider's mind the net is perfect, and relentless 



