SPIDERS AND OTHER ARACHNIDS 



until they are able to run about, and after coming out of the 

 cocoon keep together for a short time, sometimes in a web which 

 they make in common, sometimes in a web made by the mother, 

 and in some species on 

 the mother's back, but 

 they soon scatter and 

 hunt their own food or 

 make cobwebs, accord- 

 ing to the habits of the 

 species (Emerton). 



Spiders are among 

 the most interesting of 

 all animals because 

 of their remarkable 

 methods of building 

 their webs, of dis- 

 tributing themselves, 

 and of capturing their 

 prey. 



Aerial Spiders. - 

 On sunny days in au- 



tumn large numbers 



B \\ c 



FIG. 61. Parts of a spider's body. 



A, ventral view of posterior end of abdomen 



B, foot showing claws and bristles. 



C, front of head showing eyes (2) and jaws (3 



OI line threads, the showing three pairs of spinnerets (is, m.s., and s.s.). 



so-called gossamer 

 threads, may be seen and 4). 



floating about Over D, a thread from a spider's web. (After Warbur- 

 8 ton.) 



fields and meadows. 



On some of these threads, if we examine them, we shall 

 find a small (young) spider. This aerial vehicle is of the 

 creature's own construction, having been produced in the 

 following manner : Having ascended some elevated spot, such 

 as a clod of earth, the spider spins a few short threads, which 

 are fastened to the ground. These it grasps in order to ob- 

 tain a firm hold. Next it once more presses the silk glands 

 against the supporting surface, and elevates its abdomen. In 



