CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
37 
He has, by the same token, learned how, when, and where to 
look for this, that, or the other, all of which means a great 
deal to the lay observer in his field as much so as it would to 
an astronomer scanning the celestial world. One observer, 
though he live for seventy or eighty years along the river 
swamp, he will be witness to very little of scientific value. To 
be sure, he may destroy scores of them in a lifetime, but this 
within itself reveals very little, if anything, of their mysterious 
and unbelievable powers. It is only when great numbers of 
laymen add their observations of a lifetime together that one 
can begin to construct a true picture of this crafty serpent. 
But let’s hear what Uncle Dave has to say about the mud- 
dauber’s mysterious arts. He relates that once while he was 
resting from his labors during the noon hour he took notice of 
a mud-dauber and a spider facing each other as though they 
were about to have some personal differences. Both appeared 
to be in a belligerent mood. The black wasp started it all by 
creating an agitation at the door of the spider’s home, who 
quickly came out to investigate. It happened, so he states, that 
he witnessed the difficulty from the very beginning. As the 
spider advanced upon the intruder, he stopped short within 
two or three inches of the latter, which seemed intent upon 
robbing his home. The black wasp kept a close watch over the 
spider, facing him at all times, flitting his wings, moving about 
from right to left, side-stepping, as it were, and all the time 
uttering that frying noise which one hears when he is spread¬ 
ing the mud in the process of constructing his house. (For the 
benefit of those who may never have heard this talented crafts¬ 
man as he works away, plastering his house, the frying sound 
spoken of resembles very closely the sound of a wireless send¬ 
ing set, using the Morse code.) The spider stood motionless 
while Uncle Dave observed with interest, wondering when, 
and in what manner he was going to attack. Just at this time 
the mud-dauber lunged forward, and with his long black legs, 
thrust one of the spider’s legs to one side. The spider quickly 
replaced it to its former position, but otherwise did not move, 
or take heed of the wasp‘s threatened attack. The latter con¬ 
tinued as before for some time, apparently afraid to draw 
