172 THE UNIVERSE. 



most astute intelligence. In the former category may be 

 placed the regularly circular nets which the spiders of our 

 gardens stretch from branch to branch; in the other the 

 webs of the species which invade our dwellings. 



These latter, usually built in the corners of the walls, 

 exhibit a horizontal net soiled with dust, which is in a 

 sense only the basement floor of the carnivorous insect's 

 structure, for it is in the threads irregularly crossed above 

 this that the prey gets entangled and lost. But the most 

 ingenious part of this destructive engine is the lair in which 

 the hunter lies ensconced. It is a veritable circular tunnel, 

 with a double outlet and serving a double purpose: one 

 outlet is horizontal and opens upon the web; the other is 

 vertical and gives passage below. It is from the former 

 that the spider launches itself upon its prey; the other fills 

 the office of a trap-door. 



The spider takes the greatest care never to leave on its 

 web the carcasses from which it has sucked the blood ; such 

 a charnel-house would alarm its living prey. So soon as 

 ever a fly has been immolated, the insect seizes it, drags 

 it to its tunnel, and ejects it by the lower opening. Thus 

 when we look at the part of the floor below, we are aston- 

 ished at the numl^ers that have fallen victims to the san- 

 guinary spider. Sometimes also this hidden exit serves 

 for it to escape by when menaced by some serious danger. 

 But this is a very rare case; its sjoecial use, its exclusive 

 purpose, is to receive the debris of the spider's repasts; a 

 fact, I believe, not noticed by any observer. 



The disgust inspired by the spider is not well founded. 

 No insect possesses more intelligence or a more wonderful 

 structure; the ugliness of the ingenious Arachuis is for- 

 gotten so soon as we look at it without prejudice. The 

 fear with which it petrifies some persons is in itself 



