The Garden Spiders: My Neighbour 



shodcs, is never strong enough, especially as 

 it is exposed to the additional burden of little 

 bits of plaster loosened from the wall. TTie 

 owner is constandy working at it ; she adds a 

 new layer nighdy. 



E\-ery time that she issues from her tubidar 

 retreat or returns to it, she fixes the thread 

 that hangs behind her upon the road covered. 

 As evidence of this work, we have the direc- 

 tion of the surface-lines, all of which, whether 

 straight or winding, according to the fancies 

 that guide the Spider's path, converge upon 

 the entrance of the tube. Each step taken, 

 beyond a doubt, adds a filament to the web. 



We have here the story of the Procession- 

 arj' of the Pine,* whose habits I have related 

 elsewhere. WTien the caterpillars leave the 

 silk pouch, to go and browse at night, and 

 also when they enter it again, they never fail 

 to spin a litde on the surface of their nest. 

 E^ch expedition adds to the thickness of the 

 wall. 



When mo^-ing this way or that upon the 

 purse which I have split from top to bottom 

 with mv scissors, the Processionanes upholster 



* The PKve*ji:inaTies are Moth-cateipfl!ais that feed 

 on varions lesres and march in file, hying a silkoi trail 

 as they ?a. — rra«rfflj,>r"j .V-.-'fa-. 

 J69 



