The Clotho Spider 345 



and steadies the house. Additional equilibrium 

 is often supplied by tiny shells and other objects 

 hanging a long way down. 



What would happen if one robbed an old 

 dwelling, long since completed, of its outer 

 covering ? In case of such a disaster, would 

 the Spider go back to the sandy stalactites, 

 as a ready means of restoring stability ? This 

 is easily ascertained. In my hamlets under 

 wire, I select a fair-sized cabin. I strip the 

 exterior, carefully removing any foreign body. 

 The silk reappears in its original whiteness. The 

 tent looks magnificent, but seems to me too 

 limp. 



This is also the Spider's opinion. She sets to 

 work, next evening, to put things right. And 

 how ? Once more with hanging strings of sand. 

 In a few nights, the silk bag bristles with a long, 

 thick beard of stalactites, a curious piece of work, 

 excellently adapted to maintain the web in an 

 unvaried curve. Even so are the cables of a 

 suspension-bridge steadied by the weight of the 

 superstructure. 



Later, as the Spider goes on feeding, the 

 remains of the victuals are embedded in the wall, 



