The Spiders' Exodus 



things occur in the free sun-bath of the fields. 

 Unsheltered, among the bushes, the wallet of 

 the Banded Epeira, when the July heat ar- 

 rives, splits under the effort of the inner air. 

 The delivery is effected by an explosion of the 

 dwelling. 



A very small part of the family are expelled 

 with the flow of tawny floss; the vast major- 

 ity remain in the bag, which is ripped open, 

 but still bulges with eiderdown. Now that 

 the breach is made, any one can go out who 

 pleases, in his own good time, without hurry- 

 ing. Besides, a solemn action has to be per- 

 formed before the emigration. The ani- 

 mal must cast its skin; and the moult is an 

 event that does not fall on the same date for 

 all. The evacuation of the place, therefore, 

 lasts several days. It is effected in small 

 squads, as the slough is flung aside. 



Those who sally forth climb up the neigh- 

 bouring twigs and there, in the full heat of 

 the sun, proceed with the work of dissemina- 

 tion. The method is the same as that which 

 we saw in the case of the Cross Spider. The 

 spinnerets abandon to the breeze a thread that 

 floats, breaks and flies away, carrying the 

 rope-maker with it. The number of starters 



209 



