298 The Life of the Spider 



brown. She has three large white spots upon 

 her back, forming a triple-barred cross. She 

 hunts mostly at night, shuns the sun and lives 

 by day on the adjacent shrubs, in a shady re- 

 treat which communicates with the lime-snare 

 by means of a telegraph-wire. Her web is very 

 similar in structure and appearance to those 

 of the two others. What will happen if I pro- 

 cure her the visit of a Banded Epeira ? 



The lady of the triple cross is invaded by 

 day, in the full light of the sun, thanks to my 

 mischievous intermediary. The web is de- 

 serted ; the proprietress is in her leafy hut. 

 The telegraph-wire performs its office ; the 

 Cross Spider hastens down, strides all round her 

 property, beholds the danger and hurriedly 

 returns to her hiding-place, without taking 

 any measures against the intruder. 



The latter, on her side, does not seem to be 

 enjoying herself. Were she placed on the web 

 of one of her sisters, or even on that of the 

 Silky Epeira, she would have posted herself in 

 the centre, as soon as the struggle had ended 

 in the other's death. This time there is no 

 struggle, for the web is deserted ; nothing 



