26 The Life of a Spider 



reserves for the calm of the night. A prey 

 capable of resistance is not attacked in captivity. 

 The prisoner's anxiety cools the hunter's ardour. 

 The arena of a large bottle enables each athlete 

 to keep out of the other's way, respected by her 

 adversary, who is respected in her turn. Let 

 us reduce the lists, diminish the enclosure. I 

 put Bumble-bee and Tarantula into a test-tube 

 that has only room for one at the bottom. A 

 lively brawl ensues, without serious results. 

 If the Bumble-bee be underneath, she lies down 

 on her back and with her legs wards off the 

 other as much as she can. I do not see 

 her draw her sting. The Spider, meanwhile, 

 embracing the whole circumference of the en- 

 closure with her long legs, hoists herself a little 

 upon the slippery surface and removes herself 

 as far as possible from her adversary. There, 

 motionless, she awaits events, which are soon 

 disturbed by the fussy Bumble-bee. Should 

 the latter occupy the upper position, the 

 Tarantula protects herself by drawing up her 

 legs, which keep the enemy at a distance. In 

 short, save for sharp scuffles when the two 

 champions are in touch, nothing happens that 



