The Life of the Spider 



resume their original form. They lengthen 

 by unrolling their twist, they shorten by roll- 

 ing it again; lastly, they become adhesive by 

 taking the glaze of the gummy moisture 

 wherewith they are filled. 



In short, the spiral thread is a capillary 

 tube finer than any that our physics will ever 

 know. It is rolled into a twist so as to possess 

 an elasticity that allows it, without breaking, 

 to yield to the tugs of the captured prey; it 

 holds a supply of sticky matter in reserve in 

 its tube, so as to renew the adhesive properties 

 of the surface by incessant exudation, as they 

 become impaired by exposure to the air. It 

 is simply marvellous. 



The Epeira hunts not with springs, but 

 with lime-snares. And such lime-snares! 

 Everything is caught in them, down to the 

 dandelion-plume that barely brushes against 

 them. Nevertheless, the Epeira, who is in 

 constant touch with her web, is not caught in 

 them. Why ? 



Let us first of all remember that the Spider 

 has contrived for herself, in the middle of her 

 trap, a floor in whose construction the sticky 

 spiral thread plays no part. We saw how this 

 thread stops suddenly at some distance from 

 274 



