3o6 The Life of the Spider 



especially in hilly places laid bare by the wood- 

 man's axe, the favourite sites are tufts of 

 bracken, rock-rose, lavender, everlasting and 

 rosemary cropped close by the teeth of the 

 flocks. This is where I resort, as the isolation 

 and kindliness of the supports lend themselves 

 to proceedings which might not be tolerated by 

 the unfriendly hedge. 



Several times a week, in July, I go to study 

 my Spiders on the spot, at an early hour, 

 before the sun beats fiercely on one's neck. 

 The children accompany me, each provided with 

 an orange wherewith to slake the thirst that 

 will not be slow in coming. They lend me 

 their good eyes and supple limbs. The expedi- 

 tion promises to be fruitful. 



We soon discover high silk buildings, betrayed 

 at a distance by the glittering threads which 

 the dawn has converted into dewy rosaries. 

 The children are wonderstruck at those glorious 

 chandeliers, so much so that they forget their 

 oranges for a moment. Nor am I, on my part, 

 indifferent. A splendid spectacle indeed is 

 that of our Spider's labyrinth, heavy with the 

 tears of the night and lit up by the first rays 



