t, they
have a rough and ready retreat in the brambles, an ambush made of a few
leaves held together by stretched threads. It is here that, for the most
part, they remain in the daytime, motionless and sunk in meditation.

But the shrill light that vexes them is the joy of the fields. At such
times, the Locust hops more nimbly than ever, more gaily skims the Dragon-
fly. Besides, the limy web, despite the rents suffered during the night,
is still in serviceable condition. If some giddy-pate allow himself to
be caught, will the Spider, at the distance whereto she has retired, be
unable to take advantage of the windfall? Never fear. She arrives in a
flash. How is she apprised? Let us explain the matter.

The alarm is given by the vibration of the web, much more than by the
sight of the captured object. A very simple experiment will prove this.
I lay upon a Banded Epeira's lime-threads a Locust that second
asphyxiated with carbon disulphide. The carcass is placed in front, or
behind, or at either side of the Spider, who sits moveless in the centre
of the net. If the test is to be applied to a species with a daytime
hiding-place amid the foliage, the dead Locust is laid on the web, more
or less near the centre, no matter how.

In both cases, nothing happens at first. The Epeira remains in her
motionless attitude, even when the morsel is at a short distance in front
of her. She is indifferent to the presence of the game, does not seem to
perceive it, so much so that she ends by wearing out my patience. Then,
with a long straw, which enables me to conceal myself slightly, I set the
dead insect trembling.

That is quite enough. The Banded Epeira and the Silky Epeira hasten to
the central floor; the others come down from the branch; all go to the
Locust, swathe him with tape, treat him, in short, as they would treat a
live prey captured under normal conditions. It took the shaking of the
web to decide them to attack.

Perhaps the grey colour of the Locust is not sufficiently conspicuous to
attract attention by itself. Then let us try red, the brightest colour
to our retina and probably also to the Spiders'. None of the game hunted
by the Epeirae being clad in scarlet, I make a small bundle out of red
wool, a bait of the size of a Locust. I glue it to the web.

My stratagem succeeds. As long as the parcel is stationary, the Spider
is not roused; but, the moment it trembles, stirred by my straw, she runs