CHAPTER VIII 



THE INSTINCT OF SPIDERS 



Spiders and weather — Force of instinct — Repair of web -Experiments 

 to indicate the unswerving force of instinct — Slavery to instinct — 

 Transference to other snares— Spider not entangled in its own 

 snare— Mode of escape — Protective resemblance — Special senses of 

 spiders. 



The days are dark and dull. Heavy threatening 

 clouds rest on the encircling hills. A black mass 

 of nimbus hangs over half the sky, enshrouding the 

 mountains at its base, and high in the zenith breaking 

 into grey ragged fragments that seem to tell of the 

 fury behind. Low peals of thunder issue forth and 

 lightning flickers through the gloom. The sun is 

 setting, and its rays streaming across the sky penetrate 

 the dark cloud. A bow of intense brilliancy appears 

 through the threatening vapour with every hue de- 

 fined. Without is a second and fainter arch reflecting 

 in inverse order the clearer colours of the brighter 

 bow. Above they fade into the lowering sky ; beneath 

 they shine firm against the higher hills that glow with 

 i. dull purple. 



There is little need to visit the spiders on such an 

 evening as this. Few will be at work. For the 

 Arancus understands the sio^ns of the weather. It 

 will not spin when rain threatens. It knows that the 

 falling drops would annihilate its work. 



To find the Arancus in full vigour we choos(^ a dry 



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