The Life of the Spider 



her. I myself am sometimes the thief. I then 

 hear the points of the poison-fangs grinding 

 against the steel of my pincers, which tug in 

 one direction while the Lycosa tugs in the 

 other. But let us leave the animal alone : with 

 a quick touch of the spinnerets, the pill is re- 

 stored to its place; and the Spider strides off, 

 still menacing. 



Towards the end of summer, all the house- 

 holders, old or young, whether in captivity on 

 the window-sill or at liberty in the paths of the 

 enclosure, supply me daily with the following 

 improving sight. In the morning, as soon as 

 the sun is hot and beats upon their burrow, the 

 anchorites come up from the bottom with their 

 bag and station themselves at the opening. 

 Long siestas on the threshold in the sun are the 

 order of the day throughout the fine season; 

 but, at the present time, the position adopted 

 is a different one. Formerly, the Lycosa came 

 out into the sun for her own sake. Leaning 

 on the parapet, she had the front half of her 

 body outside the pit and the hinder half inside. 

 The eyes took their fill of light; the belly re- 

 mained in the dark. When carrying her egg- 

 bag the Spider reverses the posture : the front 

 is in the pit, the rear outside. With her hind- 

 154 



