270 The Life of the Spider 



The object of the expedition is attained. 

 The whipper-snapper makes off at full speed, as 

 though he had the Furies at his heels. If he 

 remained, he would presumably be eaten. 

 These exercises on the tight-rope are not re- 

 peated. I kept watch in vain on the following 

 evenings : I never saw the fellow again. 



When he is gone, the bride descends from the 

 cable, spins her web and assumes the hunting- 

 attitude. We must eat to have silk, we must 

 have silk to eat and especially to weave the 

 expensive cocoon of the family. There is there- 

 fore no rest, not even after the excitement of 

 being married. 



The Epirae are monuments of patience in 

 their lime-snare. With her head down and her 

 eight legs wide-spread, the Spider occupies the 

 centre of the web, the receiving-point of the 

 information sent along the spokes. If any- 

 where, behind or before, a vibration occur, the 

 sign of a capture, the Epeira knows about it, even 

 without the aid of sight. She hastens up at once. 



Until then, not a movement : one would 

 think that the animal was hypnotized by her 

 watching. At most, on the appearance of any- 



