第6章

Withafewthreadsandsomesmallleavesjoinedtogether，theCrabSpiderbuilds，aboveherloftynest，arudimentarywatch-towerwhereshestayspermanently，greatlyemaciated，flattenedintoasortofwrinkledshellthroughtheemptyingofherovariesandthetotalabsenceoffood。Andthismereshred，hardlymorethanaskinthatpersistsinlivingwithouteating，stoutlydefendsheregg-sack，showsfightattheapproachofanytramp。Shedoesnotmakeuphermindtodieuntilthelittleonesaregone。

TheLabyrinthSpiderisbettertreated。Afterlayinghereggs，sofarfrombecomingthin，shepreservesanexcellentappearanceandaroundbelly。Moreover，shedoesnotloseherappetiteandisalwayspreparedtobleedaLocust。Shethereforerequiresadwellingwithahunting-boxclosetotheeggswatchedover。Weknowthisdwelling，builtinstrictaccordancewithartisticcanonsundertheshelterofmycages。

Rememberthemagnificentovalguard-room，runningintoavestibuleateitherend；theegg-chamberslunginthecentreandisolatedoneverysidebyhalfascoreofpillars；thefront-hallexpandingintoawidemouthandsurmountedbyanetworkoftautthreadsformingatrap。Thesemi-transparencyofthewallsallowsustoseetheSpiderengagedinherhouseholdaffairs。Hercloisterofvaultedpassagesenableshertoproceedtoanypointofthestar-

shapedpouchcontainingtheeggs。Indefatigableinherrounds，shestopshereandthere；shefondlyfeelsthesatin，listenstothesecretsofthewallet。IfIshakethenetatanypointwithastraw，shequicklyrunsuptoenquirewhatishappening。WillthisvigilancefrightenofftheIchneumonandotherloversofomelettes？

Perhapsso。But，thoughthisdangerbeaverted，otherswillcomewhenthemotherisnolongerthere。

Herattentivewatchdoesnotmakeheroverlookhermeals。OneoftheLocustswhereofIrenewthesupplyatintervalsinthecagesiscaughtinthecordsofthegreatentrance-hall。TheSpiderarriveshurriedly，snatchesthegiddy-pateanddisjointshisshanks，whichsheemptiesoftheircontents，thebestpartoftheinsect。Theremainderofthecarcassisafterwardsdrainedmoreorless，accordingtoherappetiteatthetime。Themealistakenoutsidetheguard-room，onthethreshold，neverindoors。

Thesearenotcapriciousmouthfuls，servingtobeguiletheboredomofthewatchforabriefwhile；theyaresubstantialrepasts，whichrequireseveralsittings。Suchanappetiteastonishesme，afterI

haveseentheCrabSpider，thatnolessardentwatcher，refusetheBeeswhomIgiveherandallowherselftodieofinanition。Canthisothermotherhavesogreataneedasthattoeat？Yes，certainlyshehas；andforanimperativereason。

Atthebeginningofherwork，shespentalargeamountofsilk，perhapsallthatherreservescontained；forthedoubledwelling——

forherselfandforheroffspring——isahugeedifice，exceedinglycostlyinmaterials；andyet，fornearlyanothermonth，Iseeheraddinglayeruponlayerbothtothewallofthelargecabinandtothatofthecentralchamber，somuchsothatthetexture，whichatfirstwastranslucentgauze，becomesopaquesatin。Thewallsneverseemthickenough；theSpiderisalwaysworkingatthem。Tosatisfythislavishexpenditure，shemustincessantly，bymeansoffeeding，fillhersilk-glandsasandwhensheemptiesthembyspinning。Foodisthemeanswherebyshekeepstheinexhaustiblefactorygoing。

Amonthpassesand，aboutthemiddleofSeptember，thelittleoneshatch，butwithoutleavingtheirtabernacle，wheretheyaretospendthewinterpackedinsoftwadding。Themothercontinuestowatchandspin，lesseningheractivityfromdaytoday。SherecruitsherselfwithaLocustatlongerintervals；shesometimesscornsthosewhomImyselfentangleinhertrap。Thisincreasingabstemiousness，asignofdecrepitude，slackensandatlaststopstheworkofthespinnerets。

Forfourorfiveweekslonger，themotherneverceasesherleisurelyinspection-rounds，happyathearingthenew-bornSpidersswarminginthewallet。Atlength，whenOctoberends，sheclutchesheroffspring’snurseryanddieswithered。Shehasdoneallthatmaternaldevotioncando；thespecialprovidenceoftinyanimalswilldotherest。Whenspringcomes，theyoungsterswillemergefromtheirsnughabitation，disperseallovertheneighbourhoodbytheexpedientofthefloatingthreadandweavetheirfirstattemptsatalabyrinthonthetuftsofthyme。

Accurateinstructureandneatinsilk-workthoughtheybe，thenestsofthecagedcaptivesdonottelluseverything；wemustgobacktowhathappensinthefields，withtheircomplicatedconditions。TowardstheendofDecember，Iagainsetoutinsearch，aidedbyallmyyouthfulcollaborators。Weinspectthestuntedrosemariesalongtheedgeofapathshelteredbyarocky，woodedslope；weliftthebranchesthatspreadovertheground。

Ourzealisrewardedwithsuccess。Inacoupleofhours，Iamtheownerofsomenests。

Pitifulpiecesofworkarethey，injuredbeyondrecognitionbytheassaultsoftheweather！Itneedstheeyesoffaithtoseeintheseruinstheequivalentoftheedificesbuiltinsidemycages。

Fastenedtothecreepingbranch，theunsightlybundleliesonthesandheapedupbytherains。Oak-leaves，roughlyjoinedbyafewthreads，wrapitallround。Oneoftheseleaves，largerthantheothers，roofsitinandservesasascaffoldingforthewholeoftheceiling。Ifwedidnotseethesilkyremnantsofthetwovestibulesprojectingandfeelacertainresistancewhenseparatingthepartsofthebundle，wemighttakethethingforacasualaccumulation，theworkoftherainandthewind。

Letusexamineourfindandlookmorecloselyintoitsshapelessness。Hereisthelargeroom，thematernalcabin，whichripsasthecoatingofleavesisremoved；herearethecirculargalleriesoftheguard-room；herearethecentralchamberanditspillars，allinafabricofimmaculatewhite。Thedirtfromthedampgroundhasnotpenetratedtothisdwellingprotectedbyitswrapperofdeadleaves。

Nowopenthehabitationoftheoffspring。Whatisthis？Tomyutterastonishment，thecontentsofthechamberareakernelofearthymatters，asthoughthemuddyrain-waterhadbeenallowedtosoakthrough。Putasidethatidea，saysthesatinwall，whichitselfisperfectlycleaninside。Itismostcertainlythemother’sdoing，adeliberatepieceofwork，executedwithminutecare。Thegrainsofsandarestucktogetherwithacementofsilk；

andthewholeresiststhepressureofthefingers。

Ifwecontinuetounshellthekernel，wefind，belowthisminerallayer，alastsilkentunicthatformsaglobearoundthebrood。Nosoonerdowetearthisfinalcoveringthanthefrightenedlittleonesrunawayandscatterwithanagilitythatissingularatthiscoldandtorpidseason。

Tosumup，whenworkinginthenaturalstate，theLabyrinthSpiderbuildsaroundtheeggs，betweentwosheetsofsatin，awallcomposedofagreatdealofsandandalittlesilk。TostoptheIchneumon’sprobeandtheteethoftheotherravagers，thebestthingthatoccurredtoherwasthishoardingwhichcombinesthehardnessofflintwiththesoftnessofmuslin。

ThismeansofdefenceseemstobeprettyfrequentamongSpiders。

OurownbigHouseSpider，Tegenariadomestica，encloseshereggsinaglobulestrengthenedwitharindofsilkandofcrumblywreckagefromthemortarofthewalls。Otherspecies，livingintheopenunderstones，workinthesameway。Theywraptheireggsinamineralshellheldtogetherwithsilk。Thesamefearshaveinspiredthesameprotectivemethods。

Thenhowcomesitthat，ofthefivemothersrearedinmycages，notonehashadrecoursetotheclayrampart？Afterall，sandabounded:thepansinwhichthewire-gauzecoversstoodwerefullofit。Ontheotherhand，undernormalconditions，Ihaveoftencomeacrossnestswithoutanymineralcasing。Theseincompletenestswereplacedatsomeheightfromtheground，inthethickofthebrushwood；theothers，onthecontrary，thosesuppliedwithacoatingofsand，layontheground。

Themethodoftheworkexplainsthesedifferences。Theconcreteofourbuildingsisobtainedbythesimultaneousmanipulationofgravelandmortar。Inthesameway，theSpidermixesthecementofthesilkwiththegrainsofsand；thespinneretsneverceaseworking，whilethelegsflingundertheadhesivespraythesolidmaterialscollectedintheimmediateneighbourhood。Theoperationwouldbeimpossibleif，aftercementingeachgrainofsand，itwerenecessarytostoptheworkofthespinneretsandgotoadistancetofetchfurtherstonyelements。Thosematerialshavetoberightunderherlegs；otherwisetheSpiderdoeswithoutandcontinuesherworkjustthesame。

Inmycages，thesandistoofaroff。Toobtainit，theSpiderwouldhavetoleavethetopofthedome，wherethenestisbeingbuiltonitstrellis-worksupport；shewouldhavetocomedownsomenineinches。Theworkerrefusestotakethistrouble，which，ifrepeatedinthecaseofeachgrain，wouldmaketheactionofthespinneretstooirksome。Shealsorefusestodosowhen，forreasonswhichIhavenotfathomed，thesitechosenissomewayupinthetuftofrosemary。But，whenthenesttouchestheground，theclayrampartisnevermissing。

Arewetoseeinthisfactproofofaninstinctcapableofmodification，eithermakingfordecadenceandgraduallyneglectingwhatwastheancestors’safeguard，ormakingforprogressandadvancing，hesitatingly，towardsperfectioninthemason’sart？Noinferenceispermissibleineitherdirection。TheLabyrinthSpiderhassimplytaughtusthatinstinctpossessesresourceswhichareemployedorleftlatentaccordingtotheconditionsofthemoment。

Placesandunderherlegsandthespinstresswillkneadconcrete；

refuseherthatsand，orputitoutofherreach，andtheSpiderwillremainasimplesilk-worker，alwaysready，however，toturnmasonunderfavourableconditions。Theaggregateofthingsthatcomewithintheobserver’sscopeprovesthatitweremadtoexpectfromheranyfurtherinnovations，suchaswouldutterlychangehermethodsofmanufactureandcauseher，forinstance，toabandonhercabin，withitstwoentrance-hallsanditsstar-liketabernacle，infavouroftheBandedEpeira’spear-shapedgourd。

CHAPTERXVI:THECLOTHOSPIDER

SheisnamedDurand’sClotho(ClothoDurandi，LATR。)，inmemoryofhimwhofirstcalledattentiontothisparticularSpider。Toenteroneternityunderthesafe-conductofadiminutiveanimalwhichsavesusfromspeedyoblivionunderthemallowsandrocketsisnocontemptibleadvantage。Mostmendisappearwithoutleavinganechotorepeattheirname；theylieburiedinforgetfulness，theworstofgraves。

Others，amongthenaturalists，benefitbythedesignationgiventothisorthatobjectinlife’streasure-house:itistheskiffwhereintheykeepafloatforabriefwhile。Apatchoflichenonthebarkofanoldtree，abladeofgrass，apunybeastie:anyoneofthesehandsdownaman’snametoposterityaseffectivelyasanewcomet。Forallitsabuses，thismannerofhonouringthedepartediseminentlyrespectable。Ifwewouldcarveanepitaphofsomeduration，whatcouldwefindbetterthanaBeetle’swing-case，aSnail’sshelloraSpider’sweb？Graniteisworthnoneofthem。

Entrustedtothehardstone，aninscriptionbecomesobliterated；

entrustedtoaButterfly’swing，itisindestructible。’Durand，’

therefore，byallmeans。

Butwhydragin’Clotho’？Isitthewhimofanomenclator，atalossforwordstodenotetheever-swellingtideofbeaststhatrequirecataloguing？Notentirely。Amythologicalnamecametohismind，onewhichsoundedwellandwhich，moreover，wasnotoutofplaceindesignatingaspinstress。TheClothoofantiquityistheyoungestofthethreeFates；sheholdsthedistaffwhenceourdestiniesarespun，adistaffwoundwithplentyofroughflocks，justafewshredsofsilkand，veryrarely，athinstrandofgold。

Prettilyshapedandclad，asfarasaSpidercanbe，theClothoofthenaturalistsis，aboveall，ahighlytalentedspinstress；andthisisthereasonwhysheiscalledafterthedistaff-bearingdeityoftheinfernalregions。Itisapitythattheanalogyextendsnofurther。ThemythologicalClotho，niggardlywithhersilkandlavishwithhercoarseflocks，spinsusaharshexistence；

theeight-leggedClothousesnaughtbutexquisitesilk。Sheworksforherself；theotherworksforus，whoarehardlyworththetrouble。

Wouldwemakeheracquaintance？Ontherockyslopesintheoliveland，scorchedandblisteredbythesun，turnovertheflatstones，thoseofafairsize；search，aboveall，thepileswhichtheshepherdssetupforaseatwhencetowatchthesheepbrowsingamongstthelavenderbelow。Donotbetooeasilydisheartened:

theClothoisrare；noteveryspotsuitsher。Iffortunesmileatlastuponourperseverance，weshallsee，clingingtothelowersurfaceofthestonewhichwehavelifted，anedificeofaweather-

beatenaspect，shapedlikeanover-turnedcupolaandaboutthesizeofhalfatangerineorange。Theoutsideisencrustedorhungwithsmallshells，particlesofearthand，especially，driedinsects。

Theedgeofthecupolaisscallopedintoadozenangularlobes，thepointsofwhichspreadandarefixedtothestone。Inbetweenthesestrapsisthesamenumberofspaciousinvertedarches。ThewholerepresentstheIshmaelite’scamel-hairtent，butupsidedown。

Aflatroof，stretchedbetweenthestraps，closesthetopofthedwelling。

Thenwhereistheentrance？Allthearchesoftheedgeopenupontheroof；notoneleadstotheinterior。Theeyeseeksinvain；

thereisnothingtopointtoapassagebetweentheinsideandtheoutside。Yettheownerofthehousemustgooutfromtimetotime，wereitonlyinsearchoffood；onreturningfromherexpedition，shemustgoinagain。Howdoesshemakeherexitsandherentrances？Astrawwilltellusthesecret。

Passitoverthethresholdofthevariousarches。Everywhere，thesearchingstrawencountersresistance；everywhere，itfindstheplacerigorouslyclosed。Butoneofthescallops，differinginnowisefromtheothersinappearance，ifcleverlycoaxed，opensattheedgeintotwolipsandstandsslightlyajar。Thisisthedoor，whichatonceshutsagainofitsownelasticity。Noristhisall:

theSpider，whenshereturnshome，oftenboltsherselfin，thatistosay，shejoinsandfastensthetwoleavesofthedoorwithalittlesilk。

TheMasonMygaleisnosaferinherburrow，withitslidundistinguishablefromthesoilandmovingonahinge，thanistheClothoinhertent，whichisinviolablebyanyenemyignorantofthedevice。TheClotho，whenindanger，runsquicklyhome；sheopensthechinkwithatouchofherclaw，entersanddisappears。

Thedoorclosesofitselfandissupplied，incaseofneed，withalockconsistingofafewthreads。Noburglar，ledastraybythemultiplicityofarches，oneandallalike，willeverdiscoverhowthefugitivevanishedsosuddenly。

WhiletheClothodisplaysamoresimpleingenuityasregardsherdefensivemachinery，sheisincomparablyaheadoftheMygaleinthematterofdomesticcomfort。Letusopenhercabin。Whatluxury！

WearetaughthowaSybariteofoldwasunabletorest，owingtothepresenceofacrumpledrose-leafinhisbed。TheClothoisquiteasfastidious。Hercouchismoredelicatethanswan’s-downandwhiterthanthefleeceofthecloudswherebroodthesummerstorms。Itistheidealblanket。Aboveisacanopyortesterofequalsoftness。BetweenthetwonestlestheSpider，short-legged，cladinsombregarments，withfiveyellowfavoursonherback。

Restinthisexquisiteretreatdemandsperfectstability，especiallyongustydays，whensharpdraughtspenetratebeneaththestone。Thisconditionisadmirablyfulfilled。Takeacarefullookatthehabitation。Thearchesthatgirdtheroofwithabalustradeandbeartheweightoftheedificearefixedtotheslabbytheirextremities。Moreover，fromeachpointofcontact，thereissuesaclusterofdivergingthreadsthatcreepalongthestoneandclingtoitthroughouttheirlength，whichspreadsafar。Ihavemeasuredsomefullynineincheslong。Thesearesomanycables；theyrepresenttheropesandpegsthatholdtheArab’stentinposition。

Withsuchsupportsasthese，sonumerousandsomethodicallyarranged，thehammockcannotbetornfromitsbearingssavebytheinterventionofbrutalmethodswithwhichtheSpiderneednotconcernherself，soseldomdotheyoccur。

Anotherdetailattractsourattention:whereastheinteriorofthehouseisexquisitelyclean，theoutsideiscoveredwithdirt，bitsofearth，chipsofrottenwood，littlepiecesofgravel。Oftenthereareworsethingsstill:theexteriorofthetentbecomesacharnel-house。Here，hunguporembedded，arethedrycarcassesofOpatra，AsidaeandotherTenebrionidae{39}thatfavourunderrockshelters；segmentsofIuli，{40}bleachedbythesun；shellsofPupae，{41}commonamongthestones；and，lastly，Snail-shells，selectedfromamongthesmallest。

Theserelicsareobviously，forthemostpart，table-leavings，brokenvictuals。Unversedinthetrapper’sart，theClothocourseshergameandlivesuponthevagrantswhowanderfromonestonetoanother。Whosoventuresundertheslabatnightisstrangledbythehostess；andthedried-upcarcass，insteadofbeingflungtoadistance，ishungtothesilkenwall，asthoughtheSpiderwishedtomakeabogey-houseofherhome。Butthiscannotbeheraim。Toactliketheogrewhohangshisvictimsfromthecastlebattlementsistheworstwaytodisarmsuspicioninthepassers-bywhomyouarelyinginwaittocapture。

Thereareotherreasonswhichincreaseourdoubts。Theshellshunguparemostoftenempty；buttherearealsosomeoccupiedbytheSnail，aliveanduntouched。WhatcantheClothodowithaPupacinerea，aPupaquadridensandothernarrowspiralswhereintheanimalretreatstoaninaccessibledepth？TheSpiderisincapableofbreakingthecalcareousshellorofgettingatthehermitthroughtheopening。Thenwhyshouldshecollectthoseprizes，whoseslimyfleshisprobablynottohertaste？Webegintosuspectasimplequestionofballastandbalance。TheHouseSpider，orTegenariadomestica，preventsherweb，spuninacornerofthewall，fromlosingitsshapeattheleastbreathofair，byloadingitwithcrumblingplasterandallowingtinyfragmentsofmortartoaccumulate。Arewefacetofacewithasimilarprocess？

Letustryexperiment，whichispreferabletoanyamountofconjecture。

ToreartheClothoisnotanarduousundertaking；wearenotobligedtotaketheheavyflagstone，onwhichthedwellingisbuilt，awaywithus。Averysimpleoperationsuffices。Iloosenthefasteningswithmypocket-knife。TheSpiderhassuchstay-at-

homewaysthatsheveryrarelymakesoff。Besides，Iusetheutmostdiscretioninmyrapeofthehouse。AndsoIcarryawaythebuilding，togetherwithitsowner，inapaperbag。

Theflatstones，whicharetooheavytomoveandwhichwouldoccupytoomuchroomuponmytable，arereplacedeitherbydealdisks，whichonceformedpartofcheese-boxes，orbyroundpiecesofcardboard。Iarrangeeachsilkenhammockunderoneofthesebyitself，fasteningtheangularprojections，onebyone，withstripsofgummedpaper。Thewholestandsonthreeshortpillarsandgivesaveryfairimitationoftheunderrockshelterintheformofasmalldolmen。Throughoutthisoperation，ifyouarecarefultoavoidshocksandjolts，theSpiderremainsindoors。Finally，eachapparatusisplacedunderawire-gauze，bell-shapedcage，whichstandsinadishfilledwithsand。

Wecanhaveananswerbythenextmorning。If，amongthecabinsswungfromtheceilingsofthedealorcardboarddolmens，therebeonethatisalldilapidated，thatwasseriouslyknockedoutofshapeatthetimeofremoval，theSpiderabandonsitduringthenightandinstalsherselfelsewhere，sometimesevenonthetrellis-

workofthewirecage。

Thenewtent，theworkofafewhours，attainshardlythediameterofatwo-francpiece。Itisbuilt，however，onthesameprinciplesastheoldmanor-houseandconsistsoftwothinsheetslaidoneabovetheother，theupperoneflatandformingatester，thelowercurvedandpocket-shaped。Thetextureisextremelydelicate:theleasttriflewoulddeformit，tothedetrimentoftheavailablespace，whichisalreadymuchreducedandonlyjustsufficientfortherecluse。

Well，whathastheSpiderdonetokeepthegossamerstretched，tosteadyitandtomakeitretainitsgreatestcapacity？Exactlywhatourstatictreatiseswouldadvisehertodo:shehasballastedherstructure，shehasdoneherbesttoloweritscentreofgravity。Fromtheconvexsurfaceofthepockethanglongchapletsofgrainsofsandstrungtogetherwithslendersilkencords。Tothesesandystalactites，whichformabushybeard，areaddedafewheavylumpshungseparatelyandlowerdown，attheendofathread。Thewholeisapieceofballast-work，anapparatusforensuringequilibriumandtension。

Thepresentedifice，hastilyconstructedinthespaceofanight，isthefrailroughsketchofwhatthehomewillafterwardsbecome。

Successivelayerswillbeaddedtoit；andthepartition-wallwillgrowintoathickblanketcapableofpartlyretaining，byitsownweight，therequisitecurveandcapacity。TheSpidernowabandonsthestalactitesofsand，whichwereusedtokeeptheoriginalpocketstretched，andconfinesherselftodumpingdownonherabodeanymoreorlessheavyobject，mainlycorpsesofinsects，becausesheneednotlookfortheseandfindsthemreadytohandaftereachmeal。Theyareweights，nottrophies；theytaketheplaceofmaterialsthatmustotherwisebecollectedfromadistanceandhoistedtothetop。Inthisway，abreastworkisobtainedthatstrengthensandsteadiesthehouse。Additionalequilibriumisoftensuppliedbytinyshellsandotherobjectshangingalongwaydown。

Whatwouldhappenifonerobbedanolddwelling，longsincecompleted，ofitsoutercovering？Incaseofsuchadisaster，wouldtheSpidergobacktothesandystalactites，asareadymeansofrestoringstability？Thisiseasilyascertained。Inmyhamletsunderwire，Iselectafair-sizedcabin。Istriptheexterior，carefullyremovinganyforeignbody。Thesilkreappearsinitsoriginalwhiteness。Thetentlooksmagnificent，butseemstometoolimp。

ThisisalsotheSpider’sopinion。Shesetstowork，nextevening，toputthingsright。Andhow？Oncemorewithhangingstringsofsand。Inafewnights，thesilkbagbristleswithalong，thickbeardofstalactites，acuriouspieceofwork，excellentlyadaptedtomaintainthewebinanunvariedcurve。Evensoarethecablesofasuspension-bridgesteadiedbytheweightofthesuperstructure。

Later，astheSpidergoesonfeeding，theremainsofthevictualsareembeddedinthewall，thesandisshakenandgraduallydropsawayandthehomeresumesitscharnel-houseappearance。Thisbringsustothesameconclusionasbefore:theClothoknowsherstatics；bymeansofadditionalweights，sheisabletolowerthecentreofgravityandthustogiveherdwellingtheproperequilibriumandcapacity。

Nowwhatdoesshedoinhersoftly-waddedhome？Nothing，thatI

knowof。Withafullstomach，herlegsluxuriouslystretchedoverthedownycarpet，shedoesnothing，thinksofnothing；shelistenstothesoundofearthrevolvingonitsaxis。Itisnotsleep，stilllessisitwaking；itisamiddlestatewherenaughtprevailssaveadreamyconsciousnessofwell-being。Weourselves，whencomfortablyinbed，enjoy，justbeforewefallasleep，afewmomentsofbliss，thepreludetocessationofthoughtanditstrainofworries；andthosemomentsareamongthesweetestinourlives。

TheClothoseemstoknowsimilarmomentsandtomakethemostofthem。

IfIpushopenthedoorofthecabin，invariablyIfindtheSpiderlyingmotionless，asthoughinendlessmeditation。Itneedstheteasingofastrawtorouseherfromherapathy。Itneedstheprickofhungertobringheroutofdoors；and，assheisextremelytemperate，herappearancesoutsidearefewandfarbetween。Duringthreeyearsofassiduousobservation，intheprivacyofmystudy，I

havenotonceseenherexplorethedomainofthewirecagebyday。

Notuntilalatehouratnightdoessheventureforthinquestofvictuals；anditishardlyfeasibletofollowheronherexcursions。

Patienceonceenabledmetofindher，atteno’clockintheevening，takingtheairontheflatroofofherhouse，whereshewasdoubtlesswaitingforthegametopass。Startledbythelightofmycandle，theloverofdarknessatoncereturnedindoors，refusingtorevealanyofhersecrets。Only，nextday，therewasonemorecorpsehangingfromthewallofthecabin，aproofthatthechasewassuccessfullyresumedaftermydeparture。

TheClotho，whoisnotonlynocturnal，butalsoexcessivelyshy，concealsherhabitsfromus；sheshowsusherworks，thoseprecioushistoricaldocuments，buthidesheractions，especiallythelaying，whichIestimateapproximatelytotakeplaceinOctober。Thesumtotaloftheeggsisdividedintofiveorsixsmall，flat，lentiformpockets，which，takentogether，occupythegreaterpartofthematernalhome。Thesecapsuleshaveeachtheirownpartition-wallofsuperbwhitesatin，buttheyaresocloselysoldered，bothtogetherandtothefloorofthehouse，thatitisimpossibletopartthemwithouttearingthem，impossible，therefore，toobtainthemseparately。Theeggsinallamounttoaboutahundred。

Themothersitsupontheheapofpocketswiththesamedevotionasabroodinghen。Maternityhasnotwitheredher。Althoughdecreasedinbulk，sheretainsanexcellentlookofhealth；herroundbellyandherwell-stretchedskintellusfromthefirstthatherpartisnotyetwhollyplayed。

Thehatchingtakesplaceearly。Novemberhasnotarrivedbeforethepocketscontaintheyoung:weethingscladinblack，withfiveyellowspecks，exactlyliketheirelders。Thenew-borndonotleavetheirrespectivenurseries。Packedclosetogether，theyspendthewholeofthewintryseasonthere，whilethemother，squattingonthepileofcells，watchesoverthegeneralsafety，withoutknowingherfamilyotherthanbythegentletrepidationsfeltthroughthepartitionsofthetinychambers。TheLabyrinthSpiderhasshownushowshemaintainsapermanentsittingfortwomonthsinherguard-room，todefend，incaseofneed，thebroodwhichshewillneversee。TheClothodoesthesameduringeightmonths，thusearningtherighttoseteyesforalittlewhileonherfamilytrottingaroundherinthemaincabinandtoassistatthefinalexodus，thegreatjourneyundertakenattheendofathread。

Whenthesummerheatarrives，inJune，theyoungones，probablyaidedbytheirmother，piercethewallsoftheircells，leavethematernaltent，ofwhichtheyknowthesecretoutletwell，taketheaironthethresholdforafewhoursandthenflyaway，carriedtosomedistancebyafunicularaeroplane，thefirstproductoftheirspinning-mill。

TheelderClothoremainsbehind，carelessofthisemigrationwhichleavesheralone。Sheisfarfrombeingfadedindeed，shelooksyoungerthanever。Herfreshcolour，herrobustappearancesuggestgreatlengthoflife，capableofproducingasecondfamily。OnthissubjectIhavebutonedocument，aprettyfar-reachingone，however。TherewereafewmotherswhoseactionsIhadthepatiencetowatch，despitethewearisomeminutiaeoftherearingandtheslownessoftheresult。Theseabandonedtheirdwellingsafterthedepartureoftheiryoung；andeachwenttoweaveanewoneforherselfonthewirenet-workofthecage。

Theywererough-and-readysummaries，theworkofanight。Twohangings，oneabovetheother，theupperoneflat，thelowerconcaveandballastedwithstalactitesofgrainsofsand，formedthenewhome，which，strengtheneddailybyfreshlayers，promisedtobecomesimilartotheoldone。WhydoestheSpiderdesertherformermansion，whichisinnowaydilapidated——farfromit——andstillexceedinglyserviceable，asfarasonecanjudge？UnlessI

ammistaken，IthinkIhaveaninklingofthereason。

Theoldcabin，comfortablywaddedthoughitbe，possessesseriousdisadvantages:itislitteredwiththeruinsofthechildren’snurseries。Theseruinsaresoclose-weldedtotherestofthehomethatmyforcepscannotextractthemwithoutdifficulty；andtoremovethemwouldbeanexhaustingbusinessfortheClothoandpossiblybeyondherstrength。ItisacaseoftheresistanceofGordianknots，whichnoteventheveryspinstresswhofastenedthemiscapableofuntying。Theencumberinglitter，therefore，willremain。

IftheSpiderweretostayalone，thereductionofspace，whenallissaid，wouldhardlymattertoher:shewantssolittleroom，merelyenoughtomovein！Besides，whenyouhavespentsevenoreightmonthsinthecrampingpresenceofthosebedchambers，whatcanbethereasonofasuddenneedforgreaterspace？Iseebutone:theSpiderrequiresaroomyhabitation，notforherself——sheissatisfiedwiththesmallestden——butforasecondfamily。Whereisshetoplacethepocketsofeggs，iftheruinsofthepreviouslayingremainintheway？Anewbroodrequiresanewhome。That，nodoubt，iswhy，feelingthatherovariesarenotyetdriedup，theSpidershiftsherquartersandfoundsanewestablishment。

Thefactsobservedareconfinedtothischangeofdwelling。I

regretthatotherinterestsandthedifficultiesattendantuponalongupbringingdidnotallowmetopursuethequestionanddefinitelytosettlethematteroftherepeatedlayingsandthelongevityoftheClotho，asIdidinthatoftheLycosa。

BeforetakingleaveofthisSpider，letusglanceatacuriousproblemwhichhasalreadybeensetbytheLycosa’soffspring。Whencarriedforsevenmonthsonthemother’sback，theykeepintrainingasagilegymnastswithouttakinganynourishment。Itisafamiliarexerciseforthem，afterafall，whichfrequentlyoccurs，toscrambleupalegoftheirmountandnimblytoresumetheirplaceinthesaddle。Theyexpendenergywithoutreceivinganymaterialsustenance。

ThesonsoftheClotho，theLabyrinthSpiderandmanyothersconfrontuswiththesameriddle:theymove，yetdonoteat。Atanyperiodofthenurserystage，evenintheheartofwinter，onthebleakdaysofJanuary，Itearthepocketsoftheoneandthetabernacleoftheother，expectingtofindtheswarmofyoungsterslyinginastateofcompleteinertia，numbedbythecoldandbylackoffood。Well，theresultisquitedifferent。Theinstanttheircellsarebrokenopen，theanchoritesrunoutandfleeineverydirectionasnimblyasatthebestmomentsoftheirnormalliberty。Itismarvelloustoseethemscamperingabout。NobroodofPartridges，stumbleduponbyaDog，scattersmorepromptly。

Chicks，whilestillnomorethantinyballsofyellowfluff，hastenupatthemother’scallandscurrytowardstheplateofrice。

Habithasmadeusindifferenttothespectacleofthoseprettylittleanimalmachines，whichworksonimblyandwithsuchprecision；wepaynoattention，sosimpledoesitallappeartous。

Scienceexaminesandlooksatthingsdifferently。Shesaystoherself:

’Nothingismadewithnothing。Thechickfeedsitself；itconsumesorratheritassimilatesandturnsthefoodintoheat，whichisconvertedintoenergy。’

Wereanyonetotellusofachickwhich，forsevenoreightmonthsonend，keptitselfinconditionforrunning，alwaysfit，alwaysbrisk，withouttakingtheleastbeakfulofnourishmentfromthedaywhenitlefttheegg，wecouldfindnowordsstrongenoughtoexpressourincredulity。NowthisparadoxofactivitymaintainedwithoutthestayoffoodisrealizedbytheClothoSpiderandothers。

IbelieveIhavemadeitsufficientlyclearthattheyoungLycosaetakenofoodaslongastheyremainwiththeirmother。Strictlyspeaking，doubtisjustadmissible，forobservationisneedsdumbastowhatmayhappenearlierorlaterwithinthemysteriesoftheburrow。Itseemspossiblethattherepletedmothermaytheredisgorgetoherfamilyamiteofthecontentsofhercrop。TothissuggestiontheClothoundertakestomakereply。

LiketheLycosa，sheliveswithherfamily；buttheClothoisseparatedfromthembythewallsofthecellsinwhichthelittleonesarehermeticallyenclosed。Inthiscondition，thetransmissionofsolidnourishmentbecomesimpossible。Shouldanyoneentertainatheoryofnutritivehumourscastupbythemotherandfilteringthroughthepartitionsatwhichtheprisonersmightcomeanddrink，theLabyrinthSpiderwouldatoncedispeltheidea。

Shediesafewweeksafterheryoungarehatched；andthechildren，stilllockedintheirsatinbed-chamberforthebestpartoftheyear，arenonethelessactive。

Canitbethattheyderivesustenancefromthesilkenwrapper？Dotheyeattheirhouse？Thesuppositionisnotabsurd，forwehaveseentheEpeirae，beforebeginninganewweb，swallowtheruinsoftheold。Buttheexplanationcannotbeaccepted，aswelearnfromtheLycosa，whosefamilyboastsnosilkyscreen。Inshort，itiscertainthattheyoung，ofwhateverspecies，takeabsolutelynonourishment。

Lastly，wewonderwhethertheymaypossesswithinthemselvesreservesthatcomefromtheegg，fattyorothermattersthegradualcombustionofwhichwouldbetransformedintomechanicalforce。Iftheexpenditureofenergywereofbutshortduration，afewhoursorafewdays，wecouldgladlywelcomethisideaofamotorviaticum，theattributeofeverycreaturebornintotheworld。Thechickpossessesitinahighdegree:itissteadyonitslegs，itmovesforalittlewhilewiththesoleaidofthefoodwherewiththeeggfurnishesit；butsoon，ifthestomachisnotkeptsupplied，thecentreofenergybecomesextinctandthebirddies。

Howwouldthechickfareifitwereexpected，forsevenoreightmonthswithoutstopping，tostandonitsfeet，torunabout，tofleeinthefaceofdanger？Wherewoulditstowthenecessaryreservesforsuchanamountofwork？

ThelittleSpider，inherturn，isaminuteparticleofnosizeatall。Wherecouldshestoreenoughfueltokeepupmobilityduringsolongaperiod？Theimaginationshrinksindismaybeforethethoughtofanatomendowedwithinexhaustiblemotiveoils。

Wemustneeds，therefore，appealtotheimmaterial，inparticulartoheat-rayscomingfromtheoutsideandconvertedintomovementbytheorganism。Thisisnutritionofenergyreducedtoitssimplestexpression:themotiveheat，insteadofbeingextractedfromthefood，isutilizeddirect，assuppliedbythesun，whichistheseatofalllife。Inertmatterhasdisconcertingsecrets，aswitnessradium；livingmatterhassecretsofitsown，whicharemorewonderfulstill。NothingtellsusthatsciencewillnotonedayturnthesuspicionsuggestedbytheSpiderintoanestablishedtruthandafundamentaltheoryofphysiology。

APPENDIX:THEGEOMETRYOFTHEEPEIRA’SWEB

Ifindmyselfconfrontedwithasubjectwhichisnotonlyhighlyinteresting，butsomewhatdifficult:notthatthesubjectisobscure；butitpresupposesinthereaderacertainknowledgeofgeometry:astrongmeattoooftenneglected。Iamnotaddressinggeometricians，whoaregenerallyindifferenttoquestionsofinstinct，norentomologicalcollectors，who，assuch，takenointerestinmathematicaltheorems；Iwriteforanyonewithsufficientintelligencetoenjoythelessonswhichtheinsectteaches。

WhatamItodo？TosuppressthischapterweretoleaveoutthemostremarkableinstanceofSpiderindustry；totreatitasitshouldbetreated，thatistosay，withthewholearmouryofscientificformulae，wouldbeoutofplaceinthesemodestpages。

Letustakeamiddlecourse，avoidingbothabstrusetruthsandcompleteignorance。

LetusdirectourattentiontothenetsoftheEpeirae，preferablytothoseoftheSilkyEpeiraandtheBandedEpeira，soplentifulintheautumn，inmypartofthecountry，andsoremarkablefortheirbulk。Weshallfirstobservethattheradiiareequallyspaced；

theanglesformedbyeachconsecutivepairareofperceptiblyequalvalue；andthisinspiteoftheirnumber，whichinthecaseoftheSilkyEpeiraexceedstwoscore。WeknowbywhatstrangemeanstheSpiderattainsherendsanddividestheareawhereinthewebistobewarpedintoalargenumberofequalsectors，anumberwhichisalmostinvariableintheworkofeachspecies。Anoperationwithoutmethod，governed，onemightimagine，byanirresponsiblewhim，resultsinabeautifulrose-windowworthyofourcompasses。

Weshallalsonoticethat，ineachsector，thevariouschords，theelementsofthespiralwindings，areparalleltooneanotherandgraduallydrawclosertogetherastheynearthecentre。Withthetworadiatinglinesthatframethemtheyformobtuseanglesononesideandacuteanglesontheother；andtheseanglesremainconstantinthesamesector，becausethechordsareparallel。

Thereismorethanthis:thesesameangles，theobtuseaswellastheacute，donotalterinvalue，fromonesectortoanother，atanyratesofarastheconscientiouseyecanjudge。Takenasawhole，therefore，therope-latticededificeconsistsofaseriesofcross-barsintersectingtheseveralradiatinglinesobliquelyatanglesofequalvalue。

Bythischaracteristicwerecognizethe’logarithmicspiral。’

Geometriciansgivethisnametothecurvewhichintersectsobliquely，atanglesofunvaryingvalue，allthestraightlinesor’radiivectores’radiatingfromacentrecalledthe’Pole。’TheEpeira’sconstruction，therefore，isaseriesofchordsjoiningtheintersectionsofalogarithmicspiralwithaseriesofradii。Itwouldbecomemergedinthisspiralifthenumberofradiiwereinfinite，forthiswouldreducethelengthoftherectilinearelementsindefinitelyandchangethispolygonallineintoacurve。

Tosuggestanexplanationwhythisspiralhassogreatlyexercisedthemeditationsofscience，letusconfineourselvesforthepresenttoafewstatementsofwhichthereaderwillfindtheproofinanytreatiseonhighergeometry。

Thelogarithmicspiraldescribesanendlessnumberofcircuitsarounditspole，towhichitconstantlydrawsnearerwithouteverbeingabletoreachit。Thiscentralpointisindefinitelyinaccessibleateachapproachingturn。Itisobviousthatthispropertyisbeyondoursensoryscope。Evenwiththehelpofthebestphilosophicalinstruments，oursightcouldnotfollowitsinterminablewindingsandwouldsoonabandontheattempttodividetheinvisible。Itisavolutetowhichthebrainconceivesnolimits。Thetrainedmind，alone，morediscerningthanourretina，seesclearlythatwhichdefiestheperceptivefacultiesoftheeye。

TheEpeiracompliestothebestofherabilitywiththislawoftheendlessvolute。Thespiralrevolutionscomeclosertogetherastheyapproachthepole。Atagivendistance，theystopabruptly；

but，atthispoint，theauxiliaryspiral，whichisnotdestroyedinthecentralregion，takesupthethread；andweseeit，notwithoutsomesurprise，drawnearertothepoleinever-narrowingandscarcelyperceptiblecircles。Thereisnot，ofcourse，absolutemathematicalaccuracy，butaverycloseapproximationtothataccuracy。TheEpeirawindsnearerandnearerroundherpole，sofarasherequipment，which，likeourown，isdefective，willallowher。Onewouldbelievehertobethoroughlyversedinthelawsofthespiral。

Iwillcontinuetosetforth，withoutexplanations，someofthepropertiesofthiscuriouscurve。Pictureaflexiblethreadwoundroundalogarithmicspiral。Ifwethenunwindit，keepingittautthewhile，itsfreeextremitywilldescribeaspiralsimilaratallpointstotheoriginal。Thecurvewillmerelyhavechangedplaces。

JacquesBernouilli，{42}towhomgeometryowesthismagnificenttheorem，hadengravedonhistomb，asoneofhisproudesttitlestofame，thegeneratingspiralanditsdouble，begottenoftheunwindingofthethread。Aninscriptionproclaimed，’Eademmutataresurgo:Iriseagainlikeuntomyself。’Geometrywouldfinditdifficulttobetterthissplendidflightoffancytowardsthegreatproblemofthehereafter。

Thereisanothergeometricalepitaphnolessfamous。Cicero，whenquaestorinSicily，searchingforthetombofArchimedesamidthethornsandbramblesthatcoveruswithoblivion，recognizedit，amongtheruins，bythegeometricalfigureengraveduponthestone:

thecylindercircumscribingthesphere。Archimedes，infact，wasthefirsttoknowtheapproximaterelationofcircumferencetodiameter；fromithededucedtheperimeterandsurfaceofthecircle，aswellasthesurfaceandvolumeofthesphere。Heshowedthatthesurfaceandvolumeofthelast-namedequaltwo-thirdsofthesurfaceandvolumeofthecircumscribingcylinder。Disdainingallpompousinscription，thelearnedSyracusanhonouredhimselfwithhistheoremashissoleepitaph。Thegeometricalfigureproclaimedtheindividual’snameasplainlyaswouldanyalphabeticalcharacters。

Tohavedonewiththispartofoursubject，hereisanotherpropertyofthelogarithmicspiral。Rollthecurvealonganindefinitestraightline。Itspolewillbecomedisplacedwhilestillkeepingononestraightline。Theendlessscrollleadstorectilinearprogression；theperpetuallyvariedbegetsuniformity。

Nowisthislogarithmicspiral，withitscuriousproperties，merelyaconceptionofthegeometers，combiningnumberandextent，atwill，soastoimagineatenebrousabysswhereintopractisetheiranalyticalmethodsafterwards？Isitameredreaminthenightoftheintricate，anabstractriddleflungoutforourunderstandingtobrowseupon？

No，itisarealityintheserviceoflife，amethodofconstructionfrequentlyemployedinanimalarchitecture。TheMollusc，inparticular，neverrollsthewindingrampoftheshellwithoutreferencetothescientificcurve。Thefirst-bornofthespeciesknewitandputitintopractice；itwasasperfectinthedawnofcreationasitcanbeto-day。

Letusstudy，inthisconnection，theAmmonites，thosevenerablerelicsofwhatwasoncethehighestexpressionoflivingthings，atthetimewhenthesolidlandwastakingshapefromtheoceanicooze。Cutandpolishedlength-wise，thefossilshowsamagnificentlogarithmicspiral，thegeneralpatternofthedwellingwhichwasapearlpalace，withnumerouschamberstraversedbyasiphuncularcorridor。

Tothisday，thelastrepresentativeoftheCephalopodawithpartitionedshells，theNautilusoftheSouthernSeas，remainsfaithfultotheancientdesign；ithasnotimproveduponitsdistantpredecessors。Ithasalteredthepositionofthesiphuncle，hasplaceditinthecentreinsteadofleavingitontheback，butitstillwhirlsitsspirallogarithmicallyasdidtheAmmonitesintheearliestagesoftheworld’sexistence。

AndletusnotrunawaywiththeideathattheseprincesoftheMollusctribehaveamonopolyofthescientificcurve。Inthestagnantwatersofourgrassyditches，theflatshells，thehumblePlanorbes，sometimesnobiggerthanaduckweed，viewiththeAmmoniteandtheNautilusinmattersofhighergeometry。Atleastoneofthem，Planorbisvortex，forexample，isamarveloflogarithmicwhorls。

Inthelong-shapedshells，thestructurebecomesmorecomplex，thoughremainingsubjecttothesamefundamentallaws。IhavebeforemyeyessomespeciesofthegenusTerebra，fromNewCaledonia。Theyareextremelytaperingcones，attainingalmostnineinchesinlength。Theirsurfaceissmoothandquiteplain，withoutanyoftheusualornaments，suchasfurrows，knotsorstringsofpearls。Thespiraledificeissuperb，gracedwithitsownsimplicityalone。Icountascoreofwhorlswhichgraduallydecreaseuntiltheyvanishinthedelicatepoint。Theyareedgedwithafinegroove。

Itakeapencilanddrawaroughgeneratinglinetothiscone；and，relyingmerelyontheevidenceofmyeyes，whicharemoreorlesspractisedingeometricmeasurements，Ifindthatthespiralgrooveintersectsthisgeneratinglineatanangleofunvaryingvalue。

Theconsequenceofthisresultiseasilydeduced。Ifprojectedonaplaneperpendiculartotheaxisoftheshell，thegeneratinglinesoftheconewouldbecomeradii；andthegroovewhichwindsupwardsfromthebasetotheapexwouldbeconvertedintoaplanecurvewhich，meetingthoseradiiatanunvaryingangle，wouldbeneithermorenorlessthanalogarithmicspiral。Conversely，thegrooveoftheshellmaybeconsideredastheprojectionofthisspiralonaconicsurface。

Betterstill。Letusimagineaplaneperpendiculartotheaidsoftheshellandpassingthroughitssummit。Letusimagine，moreover，athreadwoundalongthespiralgroove。Letusunrollthethread，holdingittautaswedoso。Itsextremitywillnotleavetheplaneandwilldescribealogarithmicspiralwithinit。

Itis，inamorecomplicateddegree，avariantofBernouilli’s’Eademmutataresurgo:’thelogarithmicconiccurvebecomesalogarithmicplanecurve。

Asimilargeometryisfoundintheothershellswithelongatedcones，Turritellae，Spindle-shells，Cerithia，aswellasintheshellswithflattenedcones，Trochidae，Turbines。Thesphericalshells，thosewhirledintoavolute，arenoexceptiontothisrule。

All，downtothecommonSnail-shell，areconstructedaccordingtologarithmiclaws。ThefamousspiralofthegeometersisthegeneralplanfollowedbytheMolluscrollingitsstonesheath。

Wheredotheseglairycreaturespickupthisscience？WearetoldthattheMolluscderivesfromtheWorm。Oneday，theWorm，renderedfriskybythesun，emancipateditself，brandisheditstailandtwisteditintoacorkscrewforsheerglee。Thereandthentheplanofthefuturespiralshellwasdiscovered。

Thisiswhatistaughtquiteseriously，inthesedays，astheverylastwordinscientificprogress。Itremainstobeseenuptowhatpointtheexplanationisacceptable。TheSpider，forherpart，willhavenoneofit。Unrelatedtotheappendix-lacking，corkscrew-twirlingWorm，sheisneverthelessfamiliarwiththelogarithmicspiral。Fromthecelebratedcurvesheobtainsmerelyasortofframework；but，elementarythoughthisframeworkbe，itclearlymarkstheidealedifice。TheEpeiraworksonthesameprinciplesastheMolluscoftheconvolutedshell。

TheMolluschasyearswhereintoconstructitsspiralanditusestheutmostfinishinthewhirlingprocess。TheEpeira，tospreadhernet，hasbutanhour’ssittingatthemost，whereforethespeedatwhichsheworkscompelshertorestcontentwithasimplerproduction。Sheshortensthetaskbyconfiningherselftoaskeletonofthecurvewhichtheotherdescribestoperfection。

TheEpeira，therefore，isversedinthegeometricsecretsoftheAmmoniteandtheNautiluspompilus；sheuses，inasimplerform，thelogarithmiclinedeartotheSnail。Whatguidesher？Thereisnoappealheretoawriggleofsomekind，asinthecaseoftheWormthatambitiouslyaspirestobecomeaMollusc。Theanimalmustneedscarrywithinitselfavirtualdiagramofitsspiral。

Accident，howeverfruitfulinsurpriseswemaypresumeittobe，canneverhavetaughtitthehighergeometrywhereinourownintelligenceatoncegoesastray，withoutastrictpreliminarytraining。

ArewetorecognizeamereeffectoforganicstructureintheEpeira’sart？Wereadilythinkofthelegs，which，endowedwithaveryvaryingpowerofextension，mightserveascompasses。Moreorlessbent，moreorlessoutstretched，theywouldmechanicallydeterminetheanglewhereatthespiralshallintersecttheradius；

theywouldmaintaintheparallelofthechordsineachsector。

Certainobjectionsarisetoaffirmthat，inthisinstance，thetoolisnotthesoleregulatorofthework。Werethearrangementofthethreaddeterminedbythelengthofthelegs，weshouldfindthespiralvolutesseparatedmorewidelyfromoneanotherinproportiontothegreaterlengthofimplementinthespinstress。WeseethisintheBandedEpeiraandtheSilkyEpeira。Thefirsthaslongerlimbsandspaceshercross-threadsmoreliberallythandoesthesecond，whoselegsareshorter。

Butwemustnotrelytoomuchonthisrule，sayothers。TheAngularEpeira，thePaletintedEpeiraandtheCrossSpider，allthreemoreorlessshort-limbed，rivaltheBandedEpeirainthespacingoftheirlime-snares。Thelasttwoevendisposethemwithgreaterinterveningdistances。

Werecognizeinanotherrespectthattheorganizationoftheanimaldoesnotimplyanimmutabletypeofwork。Beforebeginningthestickyspiral，theEpeiraefirstspinanauxiliaryintendedtostrengthenthestays。Thisspiral，formedofplain，non-glutinousthread，startsfromthecentreandwindsinrapidly-wideningcirclestothecircumference。Itismerelyatemporaryconstruction，whereofnaughtbutthecentralpartsurviveswhentheSpiderhassetitslimymeshes。Thesecondspiral，theessentialpartofthesnare，proceeds，onthecontrary，inserriedcoilsfromthecircumferencetothecentreandiscomposedentirelyofviscouscross-threads。

Herewehave，followingoneaftertheothermerelybyasuddenalterationofthemachine，twovolutesofanentirelydifferentorderasregardsdirection，thenumberofwhorlsandintersection。

Bothofthemarelogarithmicspirals。Iseenomechanismofthelegs，betheylongorshort，thatcanaccountforthisalteration。

CanitthenbeapremeditateddesignonthepartoftheEpeira？

Cantherebecalculation，measurementofangles，gaugingoftheparallelbymeansoftheeyeorotherwise？Iaminclinedtothinkthatthereisnoneofallthis，oratleastnothingbutaninnatepropensity，whoseeffectstheanimalisnomoreabletocontrolthantheflowerisabletocontrolthearrangementofitsverticils。TheEpeirapractiseshighergeometrywithoutknowingorcaring。Thethingworksofitselfandtakesitsimpetusfromaninstinctimposeduponcreationfromthestart。

Thestonethrownbythehandreturnstoearthdescribingacertaincurve；thedeadleaftornandwaftedawaybyabreathofwindmakesitsjourneyfromthetreetothegroundwithasimilarcurve。Onneithertheonesidenortheotheristhereanyactionbythemovingbodytoregulatethefall；nevertheless，thedescenttakesplaceaccordingtoascientifictrajectory，the’parabola，’ofwhichthesectionofaconebyaplanefurnishedtheprototypetothegeometer’sspeculations。Afigure，whichwasatfirstbutatentativeglimpse，becomesarealitybythefallofapebbleoutofthevertical。

Thesamespeculationstakeuptheparabolaoncemore，imagineitrollingonanindefinitestraightlineandaskwhatcoursedoesthefocusofthiscurvefollow。Theanswercomes:Thefocusoftheparaboladescribesa’catenary，’alineverysimpleinshape，butendowedwithanalgebraicsymbolthathastoresorttoakindofcabalisticnumberatvariancewithanysortofnumeration，somuchsothattheunitrefusestoexpressit，howevermuchwesubdividetheunit。Itiscalledthenumbere。Itsvalueisrepresentedbythefollowingseriescarriedoutadinfinitum:

e=1+1/1+1/(1*2)+1/(1*2*3)+1/(1*2*3*4)+1/(1*2*3*4*5)+

etcIfthereaderhadthepatiencetoworkoutthefewinitialtermsofthisseries，whichhasnolimit，becausetheseriesofnaturalnumeralsitselfhasnone，hewouldfind:

e=2。7182818……

Withthisweirdnumberarewenowstationedwithinthestrictlydefinedrealmoftheimagination？Notatall:thecatenaryappearsactuallyeverytimethatweightandflexibilityactinconcert。Thenameisgiventothecurveformedbyachainsuspendedbytwoofitspointswhicharenotplacedonaverticalline。Itistheshapetakenbyaflexiblecordwhenheldateachendandrelaxed；itisthelinethatgovernstheshapeofasailbellyinginthewind；itisthecurveofthenanny-goat’smilk-bagwhenshereturnsfromfillinghertrailingudder。Andallthisanswerstothenumbere。

Whataquantityofabstrusescienceforabitofstring！Letusnotbesurprised。Apelletofshotswingingattheendofathread，adropofdewtricklingdownastraw，asplashofwaterripplingunderthekissesoftheair，ameretrifle，afterall，requiresatitanicscaffoldingwhenwewishtoexamineitwiththeeyeofcalculation。WeneedtheclubofHerculestocrushafly。

Ourmethodsofmathematicalinvestigationarecertainlyingenious；

wecannottoomuchadmirethemightybrainsthathaveinventedthem；buthowslowandlaborioustheyappearwhencomparedwiththesmallestactualities！Willitneverbegiventoustoproberealityinasimplerfashion？Willourintelligencebeableonedaytodispensewiththeheavyarsenalofformulae？Whynot？

Herewehavetheabracadabricnumberereappearing，inscribedonaSpider’sthread。Letusexamine，onamistymorning，themeshworkthathasbeenconstructedduringthenight。Owingtotheirhygrometricalnature，thestickythreadsareladenwithtinydrops，and，bendingundertheburden，havebecomesomanycatenaries，somanychapletsoflimpidgems，gracefulchapletsarrangedinexquisiteorderandfollowingthecurveofaswing。Ifthesunpiercethemist，thewholelightsupwithiridescentfiresandbecomesaresplendentclusterofdiamonds。Thenumbereisinitsglory。

Geometry，thatistosay，thescienceofharmonyinspace，presidesovereverything。Wefinditinthearrangementofthescalesofafir-cone，asinthearrangementofanEpeira’slimyweb；wefinditinthespiralofaSnail-shell，inthechapletofaSpider’sthread，asintheorbitofaplanet；itiseverywhere，asperfectintheworldofatomsasintheworldofimmensities。

AndthisuniversalgeometrytellsusofanUniversalGeometrician，whosedivinecompasshasmeasuredallthings。Ipreferthat，asanexplanationofthelogarithmiccurveoftheAmmoniteandtheEpeira，totheWormscrewingupthetipofitstail。Itmaynotperhapsbeinaccordancewithlatter-dayteaching，butittakesaloftierflight。

Footnotes:

{1}Asmallormoderate-sizedspiderfoundamongfoliage——

Translator’sNote。

{2}LeonDufour(1780-1865)wasanarmysurgeonwhoservedwithdistinctioninseveralcampaignsandsubsequentlypractisedasadoctorintheLandes。Heattainedgreateminenceasanaturalist——

Translator’sNote。

{3}TheTarantulaisaLycosa，orWolf-spider。Fabre’sTarantula，theBlack-belliedTarantula，isidenticalwiththeNarbonneLycosa，underwhichnamethedescriptioniscontinuedinChaptersiii。tovi。，allofwhichwerewrittenataconsiderablylaterdatethanthepresentchapter——Translator’sNote。

{4}GiorgioBaglivi(1669-1707)，professorofanatomyandmedicineatRome——Translator’sNote。

{5}’Whenourhusbandmenwishtocatchthem，theyapproachtheirhiding-places，andplayonathingrasspipe，makingasoundnotunlikethehummingofbees。Hearingwhich，theTarantularushesoutfiercelythatshemaycatchthefliesorotherinsectsofthiskind，whosebuzzingshethinksittobe；butsheherselfiscaughtbyherrustictrapper。’

{6}Provencalforthebitofwastegroundonwhichtheauthorstudieshisinsectsinthenaturalstate——Translator’snote。

{7}’ThankstotheBumble-bee。’

{8}LiketheDung-beetles——Translator’sNote。

{9}LiketheSolitaryWasps——Translator’sNote。

{10}SuchastheHairyAmmophila，theCercerisandtheLanguedocianSphex，Digger-waspsdescribedinotheroftheauthor’sessays——Translator’sNote。

{11}Thedesnucador，theArgentineslaughtermanwhosemethodsofslayingcattlearedetailedintheauthor’sessayentitled，TheTheoryofInstinct——Translator’sNote。

{12}AfamilyofGrasshoppers——Translator’sNote。

{13}AgenusofBeetles——Translator’sNote。

{14}AspeciesofDigger-wasp——Translator’sNote。

{15}TheCicadaistheCigale，aninsectakintotheGrasshopperandfoundmoreparticularlyintheSouthofFrance——Translator’sNote。

{16}ThegenerictitleoftheworkfromwhichtheseessaysaretakenisEntomologicalMemories，or，StudiesrelatingtotheInstinctandHabitsofInsects——Translator’sNote。

{17}AspeciesofGrasshopper——Translator’sNote。

{18}AninsectakintotheLocustsandCrickets，which，whenatrest，adoptsanattituderesemblingthatofprayer。Whenattacking，itassumeswhatisknownas’thespectralattitude。’

Itsforelegsformasortofsaw-likeorbarbedharpoons。Cf。

SocialLifeintheInsectWorld，byJ。H。Fabre，translatedbyBernardMiall:chaps。v。tovii-Translator’sNote。

{19}。39inch——Translator’sNote。

{20}Theseexperimentsaredescribedintheauthor’sessayontheMasonBeesentitledFragmentsonInsectPsychology——Translator’sNote。

{21}AspeciesofWasp——Translator’sNote。

{22}InChap。VIII。ofthepresentvolume——Translator’sNote。

{23}JulesMichelet(1798-1874)，authorofL’OiseauandL’Insecte，inadditiontothehistoricalworksforwhichheischieflyknown。

Asalad，hehelpedhisfather，aprinterbytrade，insettingtype——Translator’sNote。

{24}ChapterIII。ofthepresentvolume——Translator’sNote。

{25}AspeciesofDung-beetle。Cf。TheLifeandLoveoftheInsect，byJ。HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos:chap。v——Translator’sNote。

{26}AspeciesofBeetle——Translator’sNote。

{27}Cf。InsectLife，byJ。H。Fabre，translatedbytheauthorofMademoiselleMori:chaps。i。andii。；TheLifeandLoveoftheInsect，byJ。HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos:chaps。i。toiv——Translator’sNote。

{28}ChapterII——Translator’sNote。

{29}。39inch——Translator’sNote。

{30}TheProcessionariesareMoth-caterpillarsthatfeedonvariousleavesandmarchinfile，layingasilkentrailastheygo——Translator’sNote。

{31}Theweeklyhalf-holidayinFrenchschools——Translator’sNote。

{32}Cf。SocialLifeintheInsectWorld，byJ。H。Fabre，translatedbyBernardMiall:chap。xiv——Translator’sNote。

{33}Cf。InsectLife，byJ。H。Fabre，translatedbytheauthorofMademoiselleMori:chap。v——Translator’sNote。

{34}TheScoliaisaDigger-wasp，liketheCercerisandtheSphex，andfeedsherlarvaeonthegrubsoftheCetonia，orRose-chafer，andtheOryctes，orRhinocerosBeetle。Cf。TheLifeandLoveoftheInsect，byJ。HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos:chap。xi——Translator’sNote。

{35}Cf。SocialLifeintheInsectWorld，byJ。H。Fabre，translatedbyBernardMiall。chap。xiii。，inwhichthenameisgiven，byaprinter’serror，asPhilanthusaviporus——Translator’sNote。

{36}OrBirdSpiders，knownalsoastheAmericanTarantula——

Translator’sNote。

{37}。059inch——Translator’sNote。

{38}TheIchneumon-fliesareverysmallinsectswhichcarrylongovipositors，wherewiththeylaytheireggsintheeggsofotherinsectsandalso，moreespecially，incaterpillars。Theirparasiticlarvaeliveanddevelopattheexpenseoftheeggorgrubattacked，whichdegeneratesinconsequence——Translator’sNote。

{39}OneofthelargestfamiliesofBeetles，darkishincolourandshunningthelight——Translator’sNote。

{40}TheIulusisoneofthefamilyofMyriapods，whichincludesCentipedes，etc——Translator’sNote。

{41}AspeciesofLand-snail——Translator’sNote。

{42}JacquesBernouilli(1654-1705)，professorofmathematicsattheUniversityofBaselfrom1687totheyearofhisdeath。Heimprovedthedifferentialcalculus，solvedtheisoperimetricalproblemanddiscoveredthepropertiesofthelogarithmicspiral——

Translator’sNote。

End