CHAPTER XI 



THE GARDEN SPIDERS: THE LIME-SNARE 



THE spiral network of the Epeirae 

 possesses contrivances of fearsome cun- 

 ning. Let us give our attention by preference 

 to that of the Banded Epeira or that of the 

 Silky Epeira, both of which can be observed 

 at early morning in all their freshness. 



The thread that forms them is seen with 

 the naked eye to differ from that of the 

 framework and the spokes. It glitters in the 

 sun, looks as though it were knotted and gives 

 the impression of a chaplet of atoms. To 

 examine it through the lens on the web itself 

 is scarcely feasible, because of the shaking of 

 the fabric, which trembles at the least breath. 

 By passing a sheet of glass under the web and 

 lifting it, I take away a few pieces of thread 

 to study, pieces that remain fixed to the glass 

 in parallel lines. Lens and microscope can 

 now play their part. 



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