104 THE BROOK BOOK 



monument of patience, or was it idleness? Her 

 "repose of manner" was admirable. 



It was on this same hemlock, high up between 

 two twigs belonging to distinct systems of branches, 

 that I found the largest triangle web I have 

 ever seen. In order to hang it there, the spider 

 must have climbed high and spun out a random 

 thread. The finished web measured at least eigh- 

 teen inches from end to end. The line from the 

 apex of the triangle to the spider's position near 

 the support was much longer than those of ordi- 

 nary triangle webs. The cross lines, too, which 

 make the snare were more numerous than in 

 other webs. The rule is from nine to twelve' 

 cross lines ; this had from eighteen to twenty-two. 



I have often taken triangle spiders into the 

 house, hoping that they would avail themselves of 

 the profusion of hemlock boughs provided them 

 and spin me a web. I have even tempted them 

 with lusty mosquitoes and more delicate gnats, but 

 no webs would they spin. 



"Why is it," I complained to the Professor, 

 "that they will spin for you but not for me?" 



"Maybe you don't give the password," said he. 



"What do you say to them?" 



"I say, 'Good hunting, little brother,'" he re- 

 plied, as he shouldered his camera and walked 

 away. 



