LIFE. IN ITS INTERMEDIATE FORMS. 



The last Spider which we can here notice is the little 

 Hunter (Saliicus scenicus), which, in its zebra -like marking 

 of black and white bands, is frequently seen leaping on 

 window-sills and garden fences, in the burning sun of 

 summer. Its manners cannot be better described than in 

 the words of old Evelyn : — " Such I did frequently ob- 

 serve at Rome, which, espying a fly at three or four yards' 

 distance upon the balcony where I stood, would not make 

 directly to her, but crawl under the rail, till, being arrived 

 to the antipodes, it would steal up, seldom missing its 

 aim ; but if it chanced to want anything of being perfectly 

 opposite, would at first peep, immediately slide down 

 again, till, taking better notice, it would come the next 

 time exactly upon the fly's back. But if this happened 

 not to be within a competent leap, then would this insect 

 move so softly, as the very shadow of the gnomon seemed 

 not to be more imperceptible, unless the fly moved j and 

 then would the spider move also in the same proportion, 

 keeping that just time with her motion, as if the same 

 soul had animated both these little bodies ; and whether 

 it were forwards, backwards, or to either side, without at 

 all turning her body, like a well-managed horse. If, 

 however, the capricious fly took wing and pitched upon 

 another place behind our huntress, then would the spider 

 whirl its body so nimbly about as nothing could be ima- 

 gined more swift ; by which means she always kept the 

 head towards her prey, though, to appearance, as im- 

 moveable as if it had been a nail driven into the wood, 

 till, by that indiscernible progress (being arrived within 

 the sphere of her reach,) she made a fatal leap, swift as 

 lightning, upon the fly, catching him in the poll, where 



