CHAPTER Y. 



GENERAL COCOONING HABITS OF SPIDERS. 



Having considered in detail the structure of the cocoons of Orbweavers, 

 it is important for the sake of comparison that we should also consider 

 some of tlie t3'pical cocoons of other tribes. It will not be practicable to enter 

 into details as fully as with the Orbweavers, nor to consider as many species 

 in any of the remaining tribes. But I will give a few examples, under each 

 tribe, of those species whose cocooning liabits may be considered typical.^ 



Theridium tepidariorum is one of our best known Lineweavers. It 

 appears to be a native of America, and has been widely distributed by im- 

 migration throughout Europe. I judge that the course of immi- 

 Therid- gj-ation has been eastward, because in Evirope the species is found 

 mm epi- j^jj^^^^gj. e.xclusively in hot houses, both in England and on the 

 ' continent, while in America it habitually lives in fields, forests, 

 ravines, among rocks, around outhouses, indeed everywhere that a cobweb 

 can be located. In short, in Europe the conditions of its life are artificial, 

 in America natural. It is a ferocious species and an expert trapper, prey- 

 ing upon some of the largest insects. It spins during the season from 

 three to five ovoid cocoons, often sharply pointed at one end, varying some- 

 what in size, but sometimes at least a tliird of an inch in the longest diameter. 

 These are woven within the retitelarian snare of the creature, and sus- 

 pended well towards the top. 



Blackwall's figure of the manner in which the cocoons are suspended 

 is erroneous, or the English spiders must differ in habit from the Ameri- 

 can. I have never seen any such sheeted, bell shaped tent as that wliich 

 this author represents as enclosing the cocoons. 



The cocoon is rather simple in structure, consisting of an outer case of 



yellowish brown material, well compacted, stiff, within wliich the 



^coon pggg ^^,^ loosely placed without any or with but little interior pad- 



eaving. ^^^^ During the weaving process the cocoon is hung by a strong 



thread, or series of threads, to the cross lines of the snare. The spider 



1 My systematic knowledge of the other tribes is far less than of Orbweavers, and I have 

 sometimes liad difficulty in positively identifying the species whose liabifs 1 liave observed. 

 But I hopelhat I liave not erred in many cases ; certainly not in cnniiuli to niatciinlly all'cct 

 mv st;itements and nmchisions. 



(HI) 



