239 



curled threads woven by other members of tlie family to which the 

 triangle spider belongs. From the point where the radiating 

 lines meet a strong line extends to one of the supporting twigs. 

 Near this twig the spider rests, pulling the wel) tight so that there 

 is some loose line between its legs, as shown in the enlarged figure. 

 When an insect becomes entangled in one of the cross lines, the spider 

 suddenly lets go the loose line so that the whole web springs forward, 

 and the insect is entangled in other cross lines. The spider then 



loO. — Web of the lYiangle Spider. 



draws the web tight and snaps it agahi. This may be repeated sev- 

 eral times before the spider goes out upon the web after its prey. 



The triangle spider is a tiny fellow, and so closely resembles 

 the color of the dead branch near which it rests that it is very diffi- 

 cult to find ; its web is more easily seen, though it usually requires 

 careful searchina: to discover it. 



The Motherhood of Spiders. 



As a rule young spiders are forced to shift for themselves, and a 

 very hard time they have ; but of this we have not space to write. 



339 



