GIVING A SPIDER ITS DINNER 
“See what a pretty thing I have found,” called Bess. 
Buddy was there first. “Oh, that is just a spider 
web,” he told her. 
“It looks like a big white silk handkerchief spread out 
on the grass,” said Marylee. 
“Why do spiders build such pretty nests?” asked Bess. 
“That is not a nest,” replied Buddy, laughing at Bess. 
“That is a trap in which the spider catches its food.” 
“Where is the spider?” 
“Do you see that round hole in the side of the web? It 
goes down under that dead grass. Mrs. Spider hides in 
there so that the insects cannot see her. When an insect 
flies or crawls into the web, it gets caught in the sticky 
threads. Then Mrs. Spider rushes out and catches it.” 
“Buddy, how did you learn so much about spiders?” 
asked Bess. 
“There is one in our garden at home. She is my pet. 
I feed her insects every day. When I put something into 
her web, she rushes out to get it. It is fun to feed her.” 
“Oh, let's feed this one,” cried Bess. 
They began to hunt for insects. Fred caught the first 
one. It was a little grasshopper. “Buddy, please feed it 
to her,” said Fred. 
65 
