192 life, in its intermediate forms. 
The last Spider which we can here notice is the little 
Hunter (Saltiots 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 ; 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 wore 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 
