The Garden Spiders: My Neighbour 



solemnly emerges from her retreat and makes 

 for the top of a branch. In this exalted posi- 

 tion, she sits for some time laying her plans 

 with due regard to the locality; she consults 

 the weather, ascertains if the night will be fine. 

 Then, suddenly, with her eight legs wide- 

 spread, she lets herself drop straight down, 

 hanging to the line that issues from her spin- 

 nerets. Just as the rope-maker obtains the 

 even output of his hemp by walking back- 

 wards, so does the Epeira obtain the discharge 

 of hers by falling. It is extracted by the 

 weight of her body. 



The descent, however, has not the brute 

 speed which the force of gravity would give 

 it, if uncontrolled. It is governed by the 

 action of the spinnerets, which contract or ex- 

 pand their pores, or close them entirely, at 

 the faller's pleasure. And so, with gentle 

 moderation, she pays out this living plumb- 

 line, of which my lantern clearly shows me 

 the plumb, but not always the line. The great 

 squab seems at such times to be sprawling in 

 space, without the least support. 



She comes to an abrupt stop two inches 

 from the ground ; the silk-reel ceases working. 

 The Spider turns round, clutches the line 

 251 



