282 Spiders' Webs. 



There, taking the dead fly on his feet much as a 

 juggler plaj's with a ball upon his toes the spider 

 rolls it round and round, enveloping it in a cocoon of 

 web, and finally hangs up his game head uppermost, 

 and resumes his own position head downwards. An- 

 other spider wraps his prey in a cocoon by spinning 

 himself and the fly together round and round. At 

 the end of September or beginning of October acres 

 of furze may be seen covered with web in the morn- 

 ing, when the dew deposited upon it renders it visi- 

 ble. As the sun dries up the dew the web is no 

 longer seen. 



On September 21 of last year the rooks were soar- 

 ing and diving ; they continued to do this several 

 days in succession. I should like to say again that I 

 attach no importance to these dates, but give them 

 for illustration : these, too, were taken in a warm 

 district. Rooks usually soar a good deal about the 

 time of the equinox. On September 29 the heaths 

 and furze were white with the spiders' webs alluded 

 to above. September 27, larks .singing joyously. 

 October 2, a few grasshoppers still calling in the 

 grass r heard one or two three or four days later. 

 October 4, the ivy in full flower. October 7, the 

 thrushes singing again in the morning. October 6 

 and 7, pheasants roaming in the hedges for acorns. 

 October 13, a dragon-fly large and green hawk- 

 ing to and fro on the sunny side of hedge. October 

 15, the first redwing. During latter part of Sep- 

 tember and beginning of October, frogs croaking 

 in the ivy. 



Now, these dates would vary greatly in different 

 localities, but they show, clearer than a mere asser- 



