2 FEBRUARY 1895, Page 17

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] SIR,—May I suggest a

doubt as to the interpretation given by Mr. Veasey, as well as that given by your correspondent of January 19th, of the curious web-shaking of spiders ? I have often provoked and watched this shaking, and, as far as my experience goes, I have never yet seen it as a response to the action of real wind. The shaking seems to me only per- formed when the spider fears or suspects an enemy, and the aim of the spider I have always taken to be to make itself less definitely visible to this supposed enemy. The motion is so rapid that only a blurred patch represents the spider's body to one's eye; and I believe the action to be entirely protective in origin, with perhaps a dash of temper superadded.—I am,