B. IX J THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 259 



sembles those called wolves. It is small, variegated, sharp, 

 and active in jumping. It is called psylla. The other is 

 larger. Its colour is black, and its fore-legs are long. Its 

 movements are slow, and it can scarcely walk. It is not 

 strong, nor capable of jumping. The other kinds, which the 

 dealers in medicine offer for sale, either do not bite at all, or 

 very slightly. 



3. There is another kind of those called wolves. One 

 is small, and makes no web, and the larger sort makes a 

 coarse inferior web upon the ground or in hedges. It always 

 makes its weft over chinks in the soil, and with the origin of 

 the web in the interior it keeps guard until something falls 

 into the web and moves it, when it comes out. The va- 

 riegated kind makes a small inferior web among trees. 



4. There is another third kind, which is very skilful and 

 graceful. It commences the process of weaving by extend- 

 ing its web to the extremities on all sides, and then it draws 

 a thread from the centre, and takes up the centre cor- 

 rectly. Upon these threads it weaves, as it were, the woof, 

 and then weaves them altogether. Its sleeping place and 

 store-room are situated at a distance. In seeking its prey 

 it watches in the middle of its web. When anything 

 falls into the web and the centre is moved, the spider sur- 

 rounds and encloses it in a web, until it is rendered power- 

 less, and then takes it up and carries it to her store. If 

 hungry, she sucks it, for this is their method of enjoyment ; 

 and if not hungry, hastens back for the pursuit of more 

 prey, and in the first place mends her broken web. 



5. If anything in the meanwhile has fallen into the web, 

 she first goes to the centre, and from that point, as before, 

 falls upon her victim. If anyone destroys the web, she 

 begins spinning again at the rising or setting of the sun, for 

 it is at this time that her prey usually falls into the web. 

 The female both makes the web and pursues the prey. The 

 male only enjoys it with her. 



6. There are two kinds of graceful spiders that spin a 

 thick web, one large and one small. The one with long legs 

 keeps watch suspended above its web, that the creatures 

 which fall into the web may not be frightened when taken, 

 and then it falls upon them from above, for its size prevents 



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