326 The Life of the Spider 



renew the supply at intervals in the cages is 

 caught in the cords of the great entrance-hall. 

 The Spider arrives hurriedly, snatches the 

 giddy-pate and disjoints his shanks, which she 

 empties of their contents, the best part of the 

 insect. The remainder of the carcass is after- 

 wards drained more or less, according to her 

 appetite at the time. The meal is taken outside 

 the guard-room, on the threshold, never indoors. 



These are not capricious mouthfuls, serving 

 to beguile the boredom of the watch for a brief 

 while ; they are substantial repasts, which 

 require several sittings. Such an appetite aston- 

 ishes me, after I have seen the Crab Spider, that 

 no less ardent watcher, refuse the Bees whom 

 I give her and allow herself to die of inanition. 

 Can this other mother have so great a need as 

 that to eat ? Yes, certainly she has ; and for 

 an imperative reason. 



At the beginning of her work, she spent a 

 large amount of silk, perhaps all that her 

 reserves contained; for the double dwelling — 

 for herself and for her offspring — is a huge 

 edifice, exceedingly costly in materials ; and 

 yet, for nearly another month, I see her adding 



