BLACKS AS FISHERMEN 199 



and other insects, and, to harmonise with the superior 

 air of the manufacturer, the gossamer is of golden-green. 

 The great spider at the focus of the resplendent web is a 

 frequent and conspicuous ornament to the edges of the 

 jungle, and having no fear, and no indocility of temper, 

 it undergoes the ordeal of admiration with an assump- 

 tion of disdainful coquettism. The local name of this 

 comely creature is "Karan-jamara." Shameless poly- 

 andrist, she maintains several consorts — from three to 

 five seems to be the average number — and they, semi- 

 transparent, feeble, meek, subdued little fellows, main- 

 tain precarious isolated existences in the outskirts of 

 the web. 



Though my own experience is negative, direct in- 

 controvertible evidence is extant to the effect that 

 birds often meet their fate by blundering into the web, 

 to be devoured by the nimble and gaily decorated 

 owner. I have frequently seen karan-jamara disposing 

 of hard-shelled beetles as big in bulk as some birds, and 

 the strongest of butterflies, once entangled, is powerless. 

 The long-legged spider leaps on the struggling prey and 

 stills its beating wings with one pinch of powerful red 

 mandibles. March flies form the most frequent diet. 

 One has been observed to dispose of fourteen of the great 

 stupid flies in a single evening, and if the flies could 

 reason they might, while whimpering because of the 

 existence of such voracious spiders, acknowledge that 

 they design their webs in a very perplexing and masterly 

 manner. 



In pursuance of inquiries — the results of which are 

 herein recorded — a casual black boy, a stranger to these 

 parts, and therefore unfamiliar with the local name and 

 the special purpose to which the spider is put, was 

 cross-examined. At first he failed to recognise the 

 photograph, but when it was explained by the pointed 



