The Life of the Spider 



hour is fair game, to be eaten without scruple 

 when one has might on one's side. Time 

 was when, unaware of this fierce intolerance, 

 which is more savage still at breeding-time, I 

 saw hideous orgies perpetrated in my over- 

 stocked cages. I shall have occasion to de- 

 scribe those tragedies later. 



Let us meanwhile consider the isolated Ly- 

 cosae. They do not touch up the dwelling 

 which I have moulded for them with a bit of 

 reed; at most, now and again, perhaps with 

 the object of forming a lounge or bedroom at 

 the bottom, they fling out a few loads of rub- 

 bish. But all, little by little, build the kerb 

 that is to edge the mouth. 



I have given them plenty of first-rate ma- 

 terials, far superior to those which they use 

 when left to their own resources. These con- 

 sist, first, for the foundations, of little smooth 

 stones, some of which are as large as an 

 almond. With this road-metal are mingled 

 short strips of raphia, or palm-fibre, flexible 

 ribbons, easily bent. These stand for the 

 Spider's usual basket-work, consisting of slen- 

 der stalks and dry blades of grass. Lastly, 

 by way of an unprecedented treasure, never 

 yet employed by a Lycosa, I place at my cap- 

 133 



