However close, however prolonged her contact with this portion of the web, she runs no risk of sticking to it, because the gummy coating is lacking, as is the twisted and tubular structure, throughout the length of the spokes and throughout the extent of the auxiliary spiral.

These pieces, together with the rest of the framework, are made of plain, straight, solid thread.
But when a victim is caught, sometimes right at the edge of the web, the Spider has to rush up quickly, to bind it and overcome its attempts to free itself.

She is walking then upon her network; and I do not find that she suffers the least inconvenience.

The lime-threads are not even lifted by the movements of her legs.
In my boyhood, when a troop of us would go, on Thursdays (The weekly half-day in French schools .-- Translator's Note.), to try and catch a Goldfinch in the hemp-fields, we used, before covering the twigs with glue, to grease our fingers with a few drops of oil, lest we should get them caught in the sticky matter.

Does the Epeira know the secret of fatty substances?
Let us try.
I rub my exploring straw with slightly oiled paper.