The Life of the Spider 



by eating the occupier, a radical means of 

 cutting short disputes. 



Apart from disturbances similiar to those 

 which I provoke, disturbances that are 

 possible in the everlasting conflict of events, 

 the Spider, jealous of her own web, seems to 

 respect the webs of others. She never in- 

 dulges in brigandage against her fellows 

 except when dispossessed of her net, especially 

 in the daytime, for weaving is never done by 

 day: this work is reserved for the night. 

 When, however, she is deprived of her liveli- 

 hood and feels herself the stronger, then she 

 attacks her neighbour, rips her open, feeds on 

 her and takes possession of her goods. Let 

 us make allowances and proceed. 



We will now examine Spiders of more alien 

 habits. The Banded and the Silky Epeira 

 difier gready in form and colouring. The 

 first has a plump, olive-shaped belly, richly 

 belted with white, bright-yeUow and black; 

 the second's abdomen is flat, of a silky white 

 and pinked into festoons. Judging only by 

 dress and figure, we should not think of closely 

 connecting the two Spiders. 



But high above shapes tower tendencies, 

 those main characteristics which our methods 

 324 



