2i8 The Life of the Spider 



claims the fact. I know her for the Angular 

 Epeira [Epeira angulata, Walck.), clad in grey 

 and girdled with two dark stripes that meet in 

 a point at the back. The base of her abdomen 

 swells into a short nipple on either side. 



This neighbour will certainly serve my turn, 

 provided that she do not work too late at night. 

 Things bode well : I catch the buxom one in 

 the act of laying her first threads. At this rate, 

 my success need not be won at the expense of 

 sleep. And, in fact, I am able, throughout the 

 month of July and the greater part of August, 

 from eight to ten o'clock in the evening, to 

 watch the construction of the web, which is 

 more or less ruined nightly by the incidents of 

 the chase and built up again, next day, when 

 too seriously dilapidated. 



During the two stifling months, when the Hght 

 fails and a spell of coolness follows upon the 

 furnace-heat of the day, it is easy for me, 

 lantern in hand, to watch my neighbour's 

 various operations. She has taken up her abode, 

 at a convenient height for observation, between 

 a row of cypress-trees and a clump of laurels, 

 near the entrance to an alley haunted by Moths. 



