COCOON LIFE AND BABYHOOD. 239 



of the adnlt species, both male and female. Between these larger webs, 

 occupying the angles and spread along the window frames, one sees many 

 smaller webs. They occupy the angles where the intersecting frames of 

 the sash cross one another. They are built just underneath the frames. 

 They are stretched from the top of the frame to the surface of the glass, 

 and some of them are woven upon tlie glass itself. They are small as 

 compared with the webs of tlio adults, and they are of a bright Iduisli or 

 lead colored silk, which has not been defiled by dust. 



I counted on this window as many as one hundred and six of these 

 little tents, and in the neighborhood many spiderlings may be found. But 



many more have disappeared. Whither have they gone ? Alas, 

 A Camp there can be no douljt tliat many of them have fallen victims 



of that fratricidal strife wliicli is sure to appear when tlie young 



of any brood of spiderlings liave once set up housekeeping for 

 themselves. Others, doubtless, have gone to satisfy the appetite of their 

 own motliers, who, when once their broodlings have left the maternal care, 

 make no distinction between their own and another mother's offspring, but 

 eat all indiscriminately that fall within their maws, while on still others 

 alien species have preyed. 



The window presents an interesting object as it is thus depicted, and 

 the carefully made photograph, which has assisted the artist's study, accu- 

 rately presents to the reader what may be seen by the student who takes 

 his stand with the author and looks into this window. Elsewhere through- 

 out the cellar the same i^henomenon is presented. On another window I 

 counted fifty-three of these youngling snares spread in like jiositions ; but 

 the one here figured is the most interesting object, and presents the largest 

 exhibit I have seen of 3'outhful spider industi'y intermingled on a natural 

 site with the webs of adults and of other species. 



The Swedish naturalist Clerck saw many little Argyronetas swimming 



in tlie month of July,i which indicates that they are hatched 



°^^^^ about that time, and appeared greatly to enjoy themselves in 



Spiders si)orting tlirough the element which forms the environment of 



their home. The instinct of swimming is as fully developed in 

 these little ones at the very outset of life as in their parents. 



According to De Lignac,^ when the mothers of Argyroneta aquatica are 

 aljout to oviposit they construct a new silken bell or renew that which 



they have already made. The eggs are enclosed therein, and 



T^^'^l^ when hatched one may see issuing from tlie beautiful balloon, 



cursions ^^'^lich is shining white, a prodigious quantity of little bubbles, 



brilliant as quicksilver, which swim about in different ways ! 

 These are the young water spiders. One female, observed and reported by 

 this author made her cocoon on the loth of April, and on the 3d of 



' Aran. Svecici, pages 149, 150. ^ Op. cit, page 53. 



