258 Wild Life in a Southern County 



some time, gradually ebbs. Early in August the leaves nf 

 tlie limes begin to fade, and a few shortly afterwards fall ; 

 the silver birch had spots of a pale lemon among its foliage 

 this year on August 1 3. The brake fern, soon after it has 

 attained its full growth, begins to turn yellow in places. 

 There is a silence in the hedges and copses, and an appa- 

 rent absence of birds. But about Michaelmas (between the 

 new and old styles) there is a marked change. It is not 

 that anything particular happens upon any precise day, 

 but it is a date around which, just before and after, events 

 seem to group themselves. 



Towards the latter part of September the geometrical 

 spiders become conspicuous, spinning their webs on every 

 bush. Some of these attain an enormous size, and, being 

 so large, it is easier to watch their mode of procedure. 

 When a fly becomes entangled, the spider seizes it by the 

 poll, at the back of the head, and holds it for a short time 

 till it dies. Then he rapidly puts a small quantity of web 

 round it, and next carries it to the centre of the web. 

 There, taking the dead fly on his feet — much as a juggler 

 plays with a ball upon his toes — the spider rolls it round 

 and round, enveloping it in a cocoon of web, and finally 

 hangs up his game head uppermost, and resumes his own 

 position head downwards. Another spider wraps his prey 

 in a cocoon by spinning himself and the fly together round 

 and round. At the end of September or beginning of 

 October acres of furze may be seen covered with web in 

 the morning, when the dew deposited upon it renders it 

 visible. As the sun dries up the dew the web is no longer 

 seen. 



On September 21 of last year the rooks were soaring 

 and diving; they continued to do this several days in 

 succession. I should like to say again that I attach no 



