But, in this particular case, the vanity of the spinstress has naught to say to the matter: the strong silk zigzag is added to impart greater firmness to the web.
THE LIME-SNARE.
The spiral network of the Epeirae possesses contrivances of fearsome cunning.

The thread that forms it is seen with the naked eye to differ from that of the framework and the spokes.

It glitters in the sun, looks as though it were knotted and gives the impression of a chaplet of atoms.

To examine it through the lens on the web itself is scarcely feasible, because of the shaking of the fabric, which trembles at the least breath.

By passing a sheet of glass under the web and lifting it, I take away a few pieces of thread to study, pieces that remain fixed to the glass in parallel lines.