The Banded Epeira 6i 



hues and grades ? How does she turn them 

 out, first in this fashion, then in that ? I see 

 the results, but I do not understand the 

 machinery and still less the process. It beats 

 me altogether. 



The Spider also sometimes loses her head in 

 her difficult trade, when some trouble disturbs 

 the peace of her nocturnal labours. I do not 

 provoke this trouble myself, for I am not present 

 at those unseasonable hours. It is simply due 

 to the conditions prevaiUng in my menagerie. 



In their natural state, the Epeirse settle 

 separately, at long distances from one another. 

 Each has her own hunting-grounds, where 

 there is no reason to fear the competition that 

 would result from the close proximity of the 

 nets. In my cages, on the other hand, there is 

 cohabitation. In order to save space, I lodge 

 two or three Epeirae in the same cage. My 

 easy-going captives live together in peace. 

 There is no strife between them, no encroach- 

 ing on the neighbour's property. Each of 

 them weaves herself a rudimentary web, as 

 far from the rest as possible, and here, rapt 

 in contemplation, as though indifferent to what 



