BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



any assistance on your part. We will walk through 

 the park, although our ramble will be restricted by 

 yonder serried row of iron railings which the owner has 

 erected for the preservation of his hundreds of acres. 



Why, what is the matter now ? Another cobweb 

 across your face ? I am glad, for it foretells much sport 

 in store for us. Where do you think these flying threads 

 come from ? You have read all about it ? I am glad 

 of that : perhaps you will tell me. No, my dear fellow, 

 you are quite wrong. The book was right as far as it 

 went, but it did not go far enough. There is no doubt 

 that the orb-spinning spiders employ flying threads as a 

 means of forming foundation lines in the construction 

 of their snares. But these interesting creatures have, 

 by now, in the majority of cases, laid their eggs, snugly 

 enveloped in a thick silken covering and, having com- 

 pleted this all-important task, have come to the con- 

 clusion that life has no further attraction for them. A 

 comparatively small number of half-grown individuals 

 lie in hiding awaiting the return of spring, but they 

 would hardly dare to venture abroad on such a cheerless 

 day as this. 



Look carefully at the tiny black spider perched upon 

 the pinnacle of this railing. It is not a youngster as you 

 might suppose, but an adult spider in the full glory of 

 his manhood. How do I know ? Simply enough. 

 Do you see those prominent organs in front of his head, 



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