136 INSTINCT OF THE HOUSE SPIDER. 



haja, hrunnea, hasilineaj G. nigrum, Plusia Gamma, etc., are amongst the 

 number. 



(To be continued.) 



INSTINCT OF THE HOUSE SPIDER. 



BY A. S. MOPFATj ESQ. 



One afternoon last summer, I offered, to a very small House Spider which 

 had hung its web upon a plant in my sitting-room window, a Fly somewhat 

 larger than itself; on the Fly struggling in the web, I observed the Spider first 

 to examine it attentively for a short time, when, I suppose, conceiving it too 

 powerful to encounter oif hand, it at once deliberately commenced to envelope the 

 Fly with cords, so as to bind it completely, and render escape impossible; this 

 it accomplished by running round the Fly in every direction, a thread at the 

 same time issuing from its spinnerets, so as to effectually enfold it in toils. After 

 this precautionary measure, the Spider approached its victim cautiously, and 

 struck it repeatedly with its venomous forceps, retreating quickly after each 

 stroke. Here was certainly a very extraordinary instance of a remarkable 

 instinct, a pseudo intelligence, in this little creature ! On examining the Fly, 

 it doubtless considered it too powerful to contend with so long as it remained 

 unbound, while at the same time every probability existed of its being strong 

 enough to shatter the tiny web in pieces, to guard against which, it immediately 

 thought of, (if I may use the expression,) surrounding it with cords, so as to 

 trammel its legs, and render its escape futile. The creature seemed also aware 

 of the fatal effects of its poisonous fangs, as it patiently awaited the issue, after 

 a few strokes were given, darting back after each encounter, in order to avoid 

 the clutches of the Fly. What more could the lord of creation have done in 

 similar circumstances? Truly the most humble and insignificant of the Creator's 

 works, manifest the impress of the finger of God ! 



In order to discover if this was the usual manner of despatching their victims, 

 I offered a similar Fly to a Geometric Spider, which had hung its net in the 

 corner of a garden door-frame, but in place of using any precautionary measures, 

 the Spider conceiving itself perfect master of its antagonist, at once darted upon 

 its game, and despatched it with its mandibles. 



I observe that Spiders continue to entertain themselves at their meals, for a 

 longer period than may be generally supposed. One morning about eight o'clock, 

 I gave a Geometric Spider a middle-sized Fly, which it immediately seized; I 

 observed it again several times during the day, and for the whole time until five 

 o'clock in the evening, it was engaged with its repast. It appeared only to suck 

 the fluids from the body. 



The leg of the Harvestman Spider, (Phalangium Gornutum,) is divided below 

 the last joint into numerous articulations, and terminates at the foot in a 

 hooked claw; it also contains an internal tube, full of fluid, which I consider may 



