WEB-SPINNER AT WORK 97 



completely enwrapped and unable to make the 

 slightest resistance. With every evidence of great 

 hunger the spider seized the front part of the 

 fly with her jaws and sucked away with avidity. 



Before the meal was finished another fly be- 

 came entangled in the web. Hastening away from 

 her banquet the spider wound this newcomer 

 swiftly, but none the less securely with silk. 

 Then she rushed back to the first, only to be 

 called away again and again, until six flies were 

 secured and tightly swathed. 



The next fly was but half caught by a sticky 

 thread, and when the spider, interrupted in her 

 long-deferred meal for the seventh time, arrived at 

 the scene, she found her prey about to escape. 

 Just as the fly freed itself from the dreaded sticky 

 thread, it found itself seized by one long leg and 

 threatened with instant death. With a mighty 

 effort of its wings it bore away and finally escaped, 

 without looking behind, minus one leg. The 

 spider had commanded my entire attention. She 

 had given herself up wholly to the chase. As the 

 fly wrenched its foot free from the web, the 

 spider made a flying leap after her prey, suc- 

 ceeded in seizing one of the fly's feet and would 

 have made a capture but for the crane-fly's well- 

 known "shiftlessness with its legs." The unsuc- 

 cessful spider dropped straight down and I won- 

 dered what would become of her, had even 

 contemplated a rescue, when I beheld her stop 

 in mid-air, turn, and climb serenely back into her 

 web ! All this happened with such bewildering 



