INSECTS. 153 



pleasure. She evidently was a geometrical lady, by 

 the way she commenced operations. First she crossed 

 one or two lines from a strong high lUy plant to some 

 big bamboo-grass leaves about two feet off ; then 

 some more lower down, and a few across the corners. 

 She seemed quite indifferent as to the shape enclosed 

 by these outer lines ; a circle, I suppose she knew, could 

 be as easily inscribed in a triangle as in a square. 

 These outer lines done, she hesitated a moment, evi- 

 dently considering something, then immediately re- 

 turned to the top line, and glued three or four extra 

 ones along it. This, I suppose, was considered enough ; 

 for now, walking along to about the centre of the top 

 line, she allowed herself to drop down by the thread 

 she first attached to this spot, and then used as a means 

 of reaching the bottom line ; here she glued it. A 

 little distance from this point she attached another line, 

 and then walking along the main outer line, keeping 

 the thread she was spinning clear by means of her hind 

 foot, she, on reaching the proper distance, hauled the 

 line well taut and glued it to the outer line. This now 

 formed the second radius or spoke to the wheel. The 

 other radii, to the number of about thirty, were spun and 

 fastened in exactly the same manner. It was astonish- 

 ing how quickly this part of her task was done, though 

 occasionally she hove-to, as if considering some point. 



