The Telegraph-Wire 257 



If the eyes are insufficient guides, even close 

 at hand, how will it be when the prey has 

 to be spied from afar ! In that case, an 

 intelligence-apparatus for long-distance work 

 becomes indispensable. We have no difficulty 

 in detecting the apparatus. 



Let us look attentively behind the web of 

 any Epeira with a daytime hiding-place : we 

 shall see a thread that starts from the centre 

 of the network, ascends in a slanting line out- 

 side the plane of the web and ends at the ambush 

 where the Spider lurks all day. Except at the 

 central point, there is no connection between 

 this thread and the rest of the work, no in- 

 terweaving with the scaffolding-threads. Free 

 of impediment, the line runs straight from 

 the centre of the net to the ambush- tent. 

 Its length averages twenty-two inches. The 

 Angular Epeira, settled high up in the trees, 

 has shown me some as long as eight or nine feet. 



There is no doubt that this slanting Hne is a 

 foot-bridge which allows the Spider to repair 

 hurriedly to the web, when summoned by 

 urgent business, and then, when her round is 

 finished, to return to her hut. In fact, it is 



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