214 The Life of the Spider 



cushion, at first an inaugural landmark, then 

 a heap of bits of thread ; she once more melts 

 in the digestive crucible what is no doubt 

 intended to be restored to the silken treasury. 

 It is a tough mouthful, difficult for the stomach 

 to elaborate ; still, it is precious and must not 

 be lost. The work finishes with the swallowing. 

 Then and there, the Spider instals herself, head 

 downwards, at her hunting-post in the centre of 

 the web. 



The operation which we have just seen gives 

 rise to a reflection. Men are bom right-handed. 

 Thanks to a lack of symmetry that has never 

 been explained, our right side is stronger and 

 readier in its movements than our left. The 

 inequality is especially noticeable in the two 

 hands. Our language expresses this supremacy 

 of the favoured side in the terms dexterity, 

 adroitness and address, all of which allude to the 

 right hand. 



Is the animal, on its side, right-handed, left- 

 handed, or unbiased ? We have had oppor- 

 tunities of showing that the Cricket, the Grass- 

 hopper and many others draw their bow, which 

 is on the right wing-case, over the sounding 



