BY W. J. RAINBOW. 



543 



anythiu'/, more skilfully Imilt. When the periods of moulting or 

 maternity approach, the spider retires to the seclusion of her nest 

 and shuts off all communication from without by closing the 

 apertures. The cocoon is composed of two closely fabricated 

 layers or plaques of silk, the threads of which are crossed and 

 recrossed, and between which the eggs are placed. This is 

 stretched horizontally, the edges adhering to the walls of the 

 nest. During the period of incubation the female mounts guard 

 over her eggs, which she maintains until the young hatch out. 

 But her vigilance does not end there, for until the spiderlings are 

 old enough and strong enough to start in life for themselves, the 

 mother continues to display great solicitude for their welfare. 

 From the time that she enters her nest, and until the brood dis- 

 perse, the mother remains an absolute and willing prisoner, never 

 once quitting it even for food. By way of illustration of the 

 tenacity with which the mother will cling to her cocoon, I may 

 mention that on one occasion after breaking a nest open, the 

 spider steadfastly refused to budge from her treasure, and even 

 when I pr-oceeded to tear the cocoon with my forceps she still 

 maintained her grasp ; and further, when she was eventually 

 removed, it was with the loss of two of her legs. 



In those parts of our country favoured by mild winters many 

 species do not hibernate. 



AXTIDiE. 



The Attidce are individually exceedingly small spiders, and 

 embrace among their number some of the brightest coloured 

 examples of the Araneidee, as, for example. Alius volana, Camb., 

 and A. Hfhndidus^ Rainb. Their principal haunts are crevices 

 and interstices of walls and rocks, fissures in the ground, the 

 rugulosities of trees, shrubs, and exfoliating bark. So for as their 

 nesting habits are concerned, they closely resemble the Drassidm. * 



* In connection with this remark, Wagner observes, in speaking of the 

 Attidce: — "In certain features of their architecture they approach the 

 Dratisida'; in other features, the spiders of other groups." — Loc. cit., p. 76. 



