244 ^-^^ ^if^ ^f ^^^^ Spider 



breaking and resume their original form. They 

 lengthen by unrolling their twist, they shorten 

 by rolling it again ; lastly, they become ad- 

 hesive by taking the glaze of the gummy 

 moisture wherewith they are filled. 



In short, the spiral thread is a capillary tube 

 finer than any that our physics will ever know. 

 It is rolled into a twist so as to possess an 

 elasticity that allows it, without breaking, to 

 yield to the tugs of the captured prey ; it holds 

 a supply of sticky matter in reserve in its tube, 

 so as to renew the adhesive properties of 'the 

 surface by incessant exudation, as they become 

 impaired by exposure to the air. It is simply 

 marvellous. 



The Epeira hunts not with springs, but with 

 lime-snares. And such lime-snares ! Every- 

 thing is caught in them, down to the dande- 

 lion-plume that barely brushes against them. 

 Nevertheless, the Epeira, who is in constant 

 touch with her web, is not caught in them. Why ? 



Let us first of aU remember that the Spider 

 has contrived for herself, in the middle of her 

 trap, a floor in whose construction the sticky 

 spiral thread plays no part. We saw how this 



