42 ANIMALS OF NO IMPORTANCE. 



The weaker spiders practise many wiles in their contest 

 with their larger and more powerful brethren. It is quite 

 common for the smaller one, when being chased, to cut with 

 one of its posterior legs the line behind it. This probably 

 causes the pursuer to fall to the ground, and thus gives the 

 fugitive a chance of escaping. There is a feeble long- 

 legged spider which builds webs in the corners of rooms. 

 What this creature lacks in strength, it supplies by craft. 

 When attacked it gathers in its feet together at the centre of 

 the web and swings itself round with great velocity, so that 

 it appears like a mist on the web, and offers no point at 

 which its adversary can strike. So weak is this long-shanked 

 spider that it takes a considerable time to despatch the 

 fly which it has caught in its net. The fly does not suffer 

 its protracted execution in silence ; it makes a terrible noise. 

 Buzzing of any description always excites spiders. Every 

 spider in the neighbourhood hears the cries of the tortured 

 fly, and, associating them with breakfast, makes for the spot 

 from whence the sound proceeds. The captor of the fly has 

 no chance in open fight with his adversaries, so having 

 rapidly spun a web round his struggling captive, he cuts it 

 away from the web and allows it to hang by a line. When 

 the other spiders arrive at the spot they find nothing and re- 

 tire in disgust. Then the wily long-legged arachnid is able 

 to enjoy his meal in peace and quietness. Spiders, in spite 

 of the large number of eyes they possess, appear to have but 

 poor sight. A spider who will not notice a fly held half an 

 inch from his web will be excited by the least buzzing noise. 

 " By gently touching metal strings stretched on a piece of 

 wood," writes Hudson, "I have succeeded in attracting 

 spiders on to the strings, within two or three inches of my 

 fingers ; and I always noticed that the spiders seemed to 

 be eagerly searching for something which they evidently 

 expected to find there, moving about in an excited manner 

 and looking very hungry and fierce." 



What I have said may perhaps lead people to forma very 

 low opinion of the character of the spider. Arachnids, how- 



