250 The Life of the Spider 



and lose their efficacy by being wetted. The 

 net that was started will be finished to-morrow, 

 if the atmosphere be favourable. 



While the highly-absorbent character of the 

 snaring-thread has its drawbacks, it also has 

 compensating advantages. Both Epeirae, when 

 hunting by day, affect those hot places, exposed 

 to the fierce rays "of the sun, wherein the Crickets 

 delight. In the torrid heats of the dog-days, 

 therefore, the lime-threads, but for special pro- 

 visions, would be liable to dry up, to shrivel 

 into stiff and lifeless filaments. But the very 

 opposite happens. At the most scorching times 

 of the day, they continue supple, elastic and 

 more and more adhesive. 



How is this brought about ? By their very 

 powers of absorption. The moisture of which 

 the air is never deprived penetrates them slowly ; 

 it dilutes the thick contents of their tubes to the 

 requisite degree and causes it to ooze through, as 

 and when the earlier stickiness decreases. What 

 bird-catcher could vie with the Garden Spider 

 in the art of laying lime-snares ? And all this 

 industry and cunning for the capture of a 

 Moth! 



