48 SPIDER AND WASP. [chapTI 



is therefore allowed to prey on the minute insects, whiclB 

 adhering to the lines, would otherwise be wasted. When 

 frightened, this little spider either feigns death by extending 

 its front legs, or suddenly drops from the web. A large 

 epeira of the same division with Epeira tuherculata and 

 conica is extremely common, especially in dry situations. 

 Its web, which is generally placed among the great leaves 

 of the common agave, is sometimes strengthened near the 

 centre by a pair or even four zigzag ribbons, which connect 

 two adjoining rays. When any large insect, as a grass- 

 hopper or wasp, is caught, the spider, by a dexterous 

 movement, makes it revolve very rapidly, and at the same 

 time emitting a band of threads from its spinners, soon 

 envelopes its prey in a case like the cocoon of a silkworn. 

 The spider now examines the powerless victim, and gives 

 the fatal bite on the hinder part of its thorax ; then retreating, 

 patiently waits till the poison has taken effect. The 

 virulence of this poison may be judged of from the fact 

 that in half a minute I opened the mesh, and found a large 

 wasp quite lifeless. This Epeira always stands with its 

 head downwards near the centre of the web. When 

 disturbed, it acts differently according to circumstances ; if 

 there is a thicket below, it suddenly falls down ; and I have 

 distinctly seen the thread from the spinners lengthened by 

 the animal whilst yet stationary, as preparatory to its fall. 

 If the ground is clear beneath, the Epeira seldom falls, but 

 moves quickly through a central passage from one to the 

 other side. When still further disturbed, it practises a most 

 curious manoeuvre : standing in the middle, it violently 

 jerks the web, which is attached to elastic twigs, till at 

 last the whole acquires such a rapid vibratory movement, 

 that even the outline of the spider's body becomes indistinct. 

 It is well known that most of the British spiders, when 

 a large insect is caught in their webs, endeavour to cut 

 the lines and liberate their prey, to save their nets from 

 being entirely spoiled. I once, however, saw in a hot- 

 house in Shropshire a large female wasp caught in the 

 irregular web of a quite small spider ; and this spider, 

 instead of cutting the web, most perseveringly continued 

 to entangle the body, and especially the wings, of its 

 prey. The wasp at first aimed in vain repeated thrusts 

 with its sting at its little antagonist. Pitying the wasp, 

 after allowing it to struggle for more than an hour, I 

 killed it and put it back into the web. The spider soon 



