PREFACE. 



To be sure, in some respects the Orbweavers and Lineweavers are more 

 approachable than other tribes of spiders; for, as they are sedentary crea- 

 tures, and are found continuously upon their webs, one often has the oppor- 

 tunity to observe them with comparative freedom and comfort. But this 

 is only true of the commoner species, and of that part of their life which 

 concerns the structure of snares and trapping of food. In other, and even 

 more interesting fields, these sedentary spiders, like all the wandering groups, 

 persistently conceal their manners. 



When it is considered that most of the facts presented in my books 

 consecutively, as a connected history, have been collected under such diffi- 

 culties, and at widely separated periods and places, it is not strange that 

 some gaps in the life record may be found. But, if in some parts the 

 connecting links are lacking, and the story is incomplete, it is no more 

 than ordinarily befalls other naturalists when investigating the habits 

 of other animals. While, therefore, no one can regret more than I the 

 Idanks which here and there occur in the pages of that wonderful his- 

 tory of industrial life and art which I have attempted to unfold, I ven- 

 ture to urge the above reasons for indulgence towards any failures which 

 may appear. 



The general plan of my work, as it will be given to the public, may 

 briefly be stated as follows : The first volume is chiefly taken up with de- 

 scriptions of those parts of aranead spinningwork which are gen- 

 General ei-ally known as the web or snare, and the nest or den. The 

 the Work ^^"^^^^ concerns the nurture of the spider, as the snare is its 

 manufactured tool for capturing insects. The latter concerns the 

 protection of the animal from changes of weather and assaults of enemies. 

 In my studies of the snares of Orbweavers, I have tried to obtain the full- 

 est possible details of the spinning methods of every species; to mark the 

 striking differences which exist among the various groups; and to associate 

 these, as far as my knowledge would permit, with the general habits of 

 Plan of ^^^^ various families. Furthermore, I have brought to bear upon 

 Volume I. ^^^^^^> "^ ^ comparative way, the spinningwork and habits of 

 other tribes, so that the reader may be able to trace resemblances 

 aufl differences, and to perceive what relations, if any, exist between the 

 general life habits of all spiders. 



The consideration of these topics has necessarily suggested the degree 

 of intelligence and the variety and adaptation of methods shown by spi- 

 ders in their ordinary and special behavior. Thus have come into view 

 the profound and interesting problems relating to animal mentalism. 



Fmally, I have endeavored, in the closing chapters, to present a bird's 

 eye view of the entire field of industrial life treated of in the volume, 

 with special bearing upon a common origin, whether from the one stand- 

 point of a single originating Mind, or from the other standpoint of a 

 genetic evolution from common ancestral actions and tendencies. 



