830 



THE NATURE BOOK 







1. A PORTION OF THE CONCENTRIC THREAD MAGNIFIED TO REVEAL ITS VISCID GLOBULES. 



2. THE COMMON GARDEN SPIDER MAGNIFIED TO SHOW ITS ANATOMY. 



k-ft in the Spider's larder, in durance 

 vile, until she needs a meal. 



Throughout the summer and autumn 

 months she spreads her snares for prey ; 

 occasionally her lovers, and sometimes 

 e\en the husband of her choice, fall ^•ictims 

 to her savage and voracious appetite. 

 The winter, however, usually terminates 

 her butchery ; after a sudden and un- 



expected frost her last snare may be seen 

 conspicuously outlined in white (see illus- 

 tration, p. 829). Rarely, however, is she 

 then found at her ])ost ; more often she is 

 hiding away, endeavouring to keep warm, 

 in some sheltered corner ; but hard days 

 have come upon her, and Nemesis is wait- 

 ing an opportunity to strike. 



John J. Ward. 



