CEL^PTER XIII 



THE GARDEN SPIDERS: PAIRIXG A'SB 

 HUNTING 



NOTWITHSTANDING the importance 

 of the subject, I shall not enlarge upon 

 the nuptials of the Epeirse, grim natures whose 

 loves easUy turn to tragedy in the mystery of 

 the night. I have but once been present at the 

 pairing and for this curious experience I must 

 thank my lucky star and my fat neighbour, the 

 Angular Epeira, whom I visit so often by 

 lantern-light. Here you have it. 



It is the first week of August, at about nine 

 o'clock in the evening, under a perfect sky, in 

 calm, hot weather. The Spider has not yet 

 constructed her web and is sitting motionless 

 on her suspension-cable. The fact that she 

 should be slacking like this, at a time when her 

 building-operations ought to be in fuU swing, 

 naturally astonishes me. Can something im- 

 usual be afoot ? 



Even so. I see hastening up from the 

 neighbouring bushes and embarking on the 

 296 



