i;6 NATUEE STUDIES. 



think that I have seen individuals incapable of a 

 similar process." 



In the following instance, from the same work, we 

 have ingenuity combined with, and suggested by, 

 indignation : " A large grey spider established him- 

 self in a recess formed by a shed and a projection of 

 the house, and taking his long line diagonally from 

 the corner of the house to the eaves of a small build- 

 ing which was at the bottom of the recess, he then 

 filled up the triangular space with a well-defined 

 circular web. I had noticed with admiration during 

 the day his wonderful skill, the accuracy of his lines, 

 and the equality of the spaces, and observed how care- 

 fully he pushed down his line, and fastened it securely 

 with his two hind feet to each radius in succession. 

 When he had finished about two-thirds of his con- 

 centric circles, or rather of his helix, he went to the 

 centre and swallowed a quantity of white tenacious 

 mucus, which he had deposited there at the commence- 

 ment, having apparently spun himself out ; he then 

 proceeded to complete his work, which having accom- 

 plished, and thus reduced himself to very small 

 dimensions, he hung himself up by the hind legs, and 

 I presume went to sleep. The slightest touch of a fly 

 was, however, sufficient to make him start out, and 

 having wrapped up a few of them in his toils and well 

 stocked his larder, he again betook himself to repose. 

 In the meantime, one of the smaller spiders, consider- 

 ing that the diagonal line of his neighbour was strong 

 enough to bear two webs, began to attach his lines to 



