522 
SPIDER. 
entrap the game ; for which purpose she places her- 
self in the centre of all these circles, with her head 
downwards. She chooses this posture as the best 
means of supporting her large belly, which in any 
other position would soon fatigue her by its weight. 
Thus she waits for her prey with which the air is 
generally so replenished that a sufficient quantity 
soon falls into her net. When a small fly becomes 
her captive, she dispatches it upon the spot, because 
it is a repast which does not require much prepara- 
tion ; but when her provision is larger, and happens 
to be a strong fly who makes a vigorous resistance, 
the spider, wheeling about, involves him in a num- 
ber of threads, with which she entangles, fetters, 
and then keeps him suspended in the air; after 
which she bears him away to the nest below her 
web, which is generally made in some sheltered 
situation, where she may securely pass the night 
and be at the same time shelered from the rain. 
This insect can exist for a great length of time 
without food. It has been enclosed under a bell 
glass and left for ten months without the smallest 
quantity of nourishment, and during that time the 
spider appeared vigorous, though its body was ex- 
ceedingly diminished in consequence of its confine- 
ment. When another in full health was introduced 
as a companion, the meagre one soon commenced an 
attack, and after repeated attempts at length killed 
the stranger, which it immediately devoured, and in 
less than twenty-four hours recovered its former 
size. 
