140 The Life of the Spider 



them, incessantly passing to and fro. One 

 would say that they wished to climb higher still. 

 I will endeavour to satisfy their desires. 



I take a nine-foot reed, with tiny branches 

 spreading right up to the top, and place it 

 above the cage. The little Lycosse clamber 

 to the very summit. Here, longer threads are 

 produced from the rope-yard and are now left 

 to float, anon converted into bridges by the 

 mere contact of the free end with the neigh- 

 bouring supports. The rope-dancers embark 

 upon them and form garlands which the least 

 breath of air swings daintily. The thread is 

 invisible when it does not come between the 

 eyes and the sun ; and the whole suggests rows 

 of Gnats dancing an aerial ballet. 



Then, suddenly, teased by the air-currents, 

 the delicate mooring breaks and flies through 

 space. Behold the emigrants off and away, 

 clinging to their thread. If the wind be favour- 

 able, they can land at great distances. Their 

 departure is thus continued for a week or two, 

 in bands more or less numerous, according to 

 the temperature and the brightness of the day. 

 If the sky be overcast, none dreams of leaving. 



