TIIK SPIDERS. 323 



the bustle of the world, but yet ever supplied thence 

 with the slightly softened beams of dazzling light. Happy 

 spider couple ! 



In captivity the clever insect so thoroughly adapts itself 

 to circumstances that it either hangs its bell to the side of 

 the vessel, or if plants fail, draws some threads crosswise 

 through the water, and hangs the bell between them. Our 

 artist gladly passes the winter in an empty snailshell, closing 

 the opening with an ingenious web. 



Less idyllic than the water-spider is our native hunting- 

 spider (Dolomedes Jimbriata), which belongs to those species 

 which spin no web, but hunt their victims like animals of 

 prey. As the Argyroneta is the discoverer of the diving- 

 bell, so may this be regarded as the discoverer or first 

 builder of a floating raft. It is not content with hunting 

 insects on land, but follows them on the water, on the 

 surface of which it runs about with ease. It, however, needs 

 a place to rest on, and makes it by rolling together dry 

 leaves and such-like bodies, binding them into a firm whole 

 with its silken threads. On this raft-like vessel it floats 

 at the mercy of wind and waves, and if an unlucky water- 

 insect comes for an instant to the surface of the water to 

 breathe, the spider darts at it with lightning speed and 

 carries it back to its raft to devour at its ease. Thus every- 

 where in nature are battle, craft and ingenuity, all following 

 the merciless law of egoism, in order to maintain their own 

 lives and to destroy those of others ! 



The largest and most dreaded of all the spiders is the tropical 

 bird-catching or hunting-spider (Mygale avicularia), belonging 

 to the family of the tube-spinners (Tubitelce). Its strong 

 powerful mandibular palpi rise threateningly from the upper 

 edge of the maxillae, and, with the help of these, it is able not 

 only to master large insects, but also lizards, and even small 

 birds. The latter fact has been doubted, but has been anew 

 confirmed by Bates from his personal observation (loc. cit. 

 i., p. 160). He saw a Myyale near the Amazon River 

 which, with outstretched legs, measured seven, and, without 

 them, two, inches long. Body and legs were covered with 

 strong grey and red hair. Bates' attention was drawn to 

 the hateful monster by a movement he noticed on a tree- 

 trunk. He looked more closely at a deep crevice in the 

 tree, which was covered by a thick white web. The lower 



