Garden Spiders; Pairing and Hunting 



he remained, he would presumably be eaten. 

 These exercises on the tight-rope are not re- 

 peated. I kept watch in vain on the following 

 evenings: I never saw the fellow again. 



When he is gone, the bride descends from 

 the cable, spins her web and assumes the 

 hunting-attitude. We must eat to have silk, 

 we must have silk to eat and especially to 

 weave the expensive cocoon of the family. 

 There is therefore no rest, not even after the 

 excitement of being married. 



The Epirae are monuments of patience in 

 their lime-snare. With her head down and 

 her eight legs wide-spread, the Spider occupies 

 the centre of the web, the receiving-point of 

 the information sent along the spokes. If 

 anywhere, behind or before, a vibration occur, 

 the sign of a capture, the Epeira knows about 

 it, even without the aid of sight. She hastens 

 up at once. 



Until then, not a movement: one would 

 think that the animal was hypnotized by her 

 watching. At most, on the appearance of any. 

 thing suspicious, she begins shaking her nest. 

 This is her way of inspiring the intruder with 

 awe. If I myself wish to provoke the singular 

 alarm, I have but to tease the Epeira with a 



