10 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



spread their innumerable webs so closely and 

 compactly that they resembled a net. I have 

 frequently watched with much amusement 

 the cautious peregrination of the humming 

 bird, who, advancing beneath the web, en- 

 tered the various labyrinths and cells in 

 search of entangled flies, but as the larger 

 spiders did not tamely surrender their booty, 

 the invader was often compelled to retreat; 

 being within a few feet, I could observe all 

 their evolutions with great precision. The 

 active little bird generally passed once or 

 twice round the court, as if to reconnoitre his 

 ground, and commenced his attack by going 

 carefully under the nets of the wily insect, 

 and seizing by surprise the smallest entangled 

 flies, or those that were most feeble. In 

 ascending the angular traps of the spider 

 great care and skill was required ; sometimes 

 he had scarcely room for his little wings to 

 perform their office, and the least deviation 



