40 The Life of a Spider 



insect is attacked in the neck ; if mere paralysis 

 be required, the neck is respected and the lower 

 segments — sometimes one alone, sometimes 

 three, sometimes all or nearly all, according to 

 the special organization of the victim — receive 

 the dagger-thrust. 



Even the paralyzers, at least some of them, 

 are acquainted with the immense vital import- 

 ance of the nerve-centres of the neck. We have 

 seen the Hairy Ammophila munching the cater- 

 pillar's brain, the Languedocian Sphex munching 

 the brain of the Ephippigera, with the object 

 of inducing a passing torpor. But they simply 

 squeeze the brain and do even this with a wise 

 discretion ; they are careful not to drive their 

 sting into this fundamental centre of life ; not 

 one of them ever thinks of doing so, for the 

 result would be a corpse which the larva would 

 despise. The Spider, on the other hand, inserts 

 her double dirk there and there alone ; any else- 

 where it would inflict a wound likely to increase 

 resistance through irritation. She wants a 

 venison for consumption without delay and 

 brutally thrusts her fangs into the spot which 

 the others so conscientiously respect. 



