160 WILD LIFE AT HOME. 



prey directly it becomes entangled, especially when 

 the victim is of small size. I saw the one figured 

 on page 158 do this with a fly, which he uncere- 

 moniously dragged right through his web and 

 straightway devoured. Others, when they entangle 

 a large fly, bind it securely before they commence 



<; i: ASSIIOPPEK. 



to despatch it. I once watched a blue-bottle en- 

 mesh itself in a spider's web. The owner was waiting 

 at the end of his tunnel of retreat, and directly the 

 poor fly began to struggle it telegraphed the news 

 of its predicament down along the threads of the 

 web, and out rushed the spider in response. There 

 was a very brief encounter, and the blue-bottle 

 began to revolve like a spitted ox before a fire, and 

 turn greyer and greyer. At every turn the spider 



