Pairing and Hunting 275 



making it of the fineness required, and, with 

 the same movement, winds it round and round 

 its collar. 



Even so with the Epeira's work. The 

 Spider's front tarsi are the motor ; the revolv- 

 ing spool is the captured insect ; the steel 

 eyelet is the aperture of the spinnerets. To 

 bind the subject with precision and dispatch 

 nothing could be better than this inexpensive 

 and highly-effective method. 



Less frequently, a second process is employed. 

 With a quick movement, the Spider herself 

 turns round about the motionless insect, cross- 

 ing the web first at the top and then at the 

 bottom and gradually placing the fastenings of 

 her line. The great elasticity of the lime- 

 threads allows the Epeira to fling herself time 

 after time right into the web and to pass through 

 it without damaging the net. 



Let us now suppose the case of some danger- 

 ous game : a Praying Mantis, for instance, 

 brandishing her lethal Hmbs, each hooked and 

 fitted with a double saw ; an angry Hornet, dart- 

 ing her awful sting ; a sturdy Beetle, invincible 

 under his horny armour. These are exceptional 



