Cobwebs
Walking round an outdoor display of rock plants that was illuminated by small strip lights on pairs of iron legs about eighteen inches long, 1' was intrigued to discover that between each pair of legs a spider had made a web. When I saw the first one I admired the web. It was a picture-book example, a fairy-tale wonder. 1 passed on to the next group of plants. Moths were fluttering round the light and one was caught in the web beneath. Now it is simple enough to say that whefe a spider finds a suitable upright it will spin a web, but it struck me as extraordinary that there was a web at every light without exception, and every light had a powerful attraction for the spider's prey. Does a spider become aware that moths and insects are attracted by a lamp and therefore use strategy in making the 'web at a particular place ? 1 have not noticed that spiders are fond of light. In fact, they seem to prefer sheltered and shaded places among tall grass, between two bushes or in the far corner of the attic. 1 overheard a lady who was looking at the rock plants clicking her tongue at the sight of the cobwebs and I smiled to think what she expected the gardener to do.
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