Michaelmas. 317 
absence of birds. But about Michaelmas (between 
the new and old styles) there is a marked change. It is 
not that anything particular happens upon any precise 
day, but it is a date around which, just before and 
after, events seem to group themselves. 
Towards the latter part of September the geome- 
trical spiders become conspicuous, spinning their webs 
on every bush. Some of these attain an enormous 
size, and, being so large, it is easier to watch their 
mode of procedure. When a fly becomes entangled, 
the spider seizes it by the poll, at the back of the 
head, and holds it for a short time till it dies. Then 
he rapidly puts a small quantity of web round it, and 
next carries it to the centre of the web. There, taking 
the dead fly on his feet—much as a juggler plays with a 
ball upon his toes—the spider rolls it round and round, 
enveloping it in a cocoon of web, and finally hangs 
up his game head uppermost, and resumes his own 
position head downwards. Another spider wraps his 
prey in a cocoon by spinning himself and the fly to- 
gether round and round. At the end of September 
or beginning of October acres of furze may be seen 
covered with web in the morning, when the dew de- 
posited upon it renders it visible. As the sun dries 
up the dew the web is no longer seen. 
On September 21 of last year the rooks were 
soaring and diving ; they continued to do this several 
days in succession. I should like to say again 
that I attach no importance to these dates, but give 
