to which it is to be fixed. This process it repeats until it has filled up nearly the whole space from the circumference to the centre with concentric circles, distant from each other about two lines. It always, however, leaves a vacant interval around the smallest first-spun circles that are nearest to the centre, and bites away the small cotton-like tuft that united all the radii, which being held now together by the circular threads have thus, probably, their elasticity increased; and in the circular opening resulting from this procedure it takes its station and watches for its prey, or occasionally retires to a little apartment formed under some leaf, which it also uses as a slaughter-house.” The lair thus formed is connected with the web by means of a thread along which the vibrations caused by the struggles of any captured insect are carried, thus apprising the spider, who, if angry, rushes out to seize her victim. It is a very amusing thing to strike a tuning-fork on some hard substance, and then touch the net with it. The spider, full of excitement, darts towards the area of disturbance, but is bewildered at finding nothing, where the bag seemed so obvious. She may be thus lured out several times in succession, but at length does not come, showing that she can adapt her psychology to an experience which must be for her altogether unprecedented. I have compared her, on these occasions, with a sceptic at a _séance_, when something had unmistakably and unaccountably happened.