112 



HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. 



than house-flies, and two or three will make her. a good 

 meal. I put half a dozen in the jar, and cover it so 

 they cannot escape. And now madam is on the alert ; 

 she watches them as a cat watches a mouse; she 

 crouches and moves caxitiously, and when one alights 

 she pounces upon it. Not often does she miss her 







I J 



THE INSECT MENAGEjUK. 



"■:-' i. ?. .?■ 



prey, but when she does it is very amusing to see the 

 astonishment she displays. She slowly straightens up 

 and feels beneath her. Satisfied that the game is gone, 

 she now becomes much more wary, and acts as if she 

 did not care for flies at all, allowing one to come so 

 near that it almost touches her before she springs upon 

 it. When there are several flies in the jar she disposes 

 of one much more quickly than she otherwise would. 



