1 20 The Life of the Spider 



it is hung, she flings herself madly on her 

 treasure and lovingly embraces it, ready to bite 

 whoso would take it from her. I myself am 

 sometimes the thief. I then hear the points 

 of the poison-fangs grinding against the steel 

 of my pincers, which tug in one direction while 

 the Lycosa tugs in the other. But let us leave 

 the animal alone : with a quick touch of the 

 spinnerets, the pill is restored to its place ; and 

 the Spider strides off, still menacing. 



Towards the end of summer, all the house- 

 holders, old or young, whether in captivity on 

 the window-sill or at Uberty in the paths of the 

 enclosure, supply me daily with the following 

 improving sight. In the morning, as soon as 

 the sun is hot and beats upon their burrow, the 

 anchorites come up from the bottom with their 

 bag and station themselves at the opening. 

 Long siestas on the threshold in the sun are 

 the order of the day throughout the fine season ; 

 but, at the present time, the position adopted 

 is a different one. Formerly, the Lycosa came 

 out into the sun for her own sake. Leaning 

 on the parapet, she had the front half of her 

 body outside the pit and the hinder half inside. 



