LAND SPIDERS. 245 



Indeed, in the summer time it is hardly possible to find 

 such a wall without a number of Hunting spiders upon it. 



When the spider catches sight of a fly on the wall, it 

 crouches down as low as possible, just like a cat or 

 tiger, and like these creatures, is curiously indistin- 

 guishable in spite of its colouring. By very slow 

 degrees, it draws itself towards the fly, and when it 

 comes within distance of its spring, leaps upon it and 

 kills it in a moment. It can leap in this way even 

 though it be on a perpendicular wall. If it be examined 

 closely it will be seen to draw behind it a safety line of 

 silk. The thread is exceedingly delicate, and would 

 escape observation if not sought for. 



Every one who has enjoyed the luxury of an early 

 walk on a fine summer day, will have noticed that the 

 ground is sometimes covered with delicate spider webs 

 which have appeared as if by magic, and are covered 

 with tiny dew-drops, which sparkle in the sun like so 

 many diamonds. These are the webs of the Gossamer 

 spider. 



The tiny spiders which are popularly called " Money- 

 spinners," because they are supposed to bring good 

 fortune to those persons on whose clothes they spin their 

 almost invisible webs, are mostly Gossamers, and their 

 mode of action, as observed by the best naturalists, is as 

 follows : The little spider always chooses a hot, fine 

 day, and then climbs to the top of a plant or twig, and 

 emits a long silken thread, which floats loosely in the 

 air. As every one knows, the rays of the sun heat the 



