20 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



material. While cutting away the viscid spirals, the portions of the snare 

 above or below had to be looked after lest the orb should collapse by the 

 sundering of the supporting radii. This, however, was adroitly managed 

 as in the case of cutting out entangled insects, the inevitable dragline 

 being used to splice and stay from the spinnerets w'hile the spider cut 

 away with the fangs. 



When the two leaves and two twigs had been cleared away, a vacant 

 section was left in the web of about one-fifth the whole. At this point 

 my observation ceased, and I cannot say whether the spider built a new 

 orb immediately, clearing away all the rest, or patched the damaged section. 

 On the following morning, however, she was resting within her nest, holding 

 to a trapline attached to a perfect orb, on which were no traces of mending. 



A female Epeira sclopetaria was observed clearing off a lot of straggling 

 threads stretched across a window. These were gathered up with the 

 second and third pairs of legs principall}^ which, aided by the 

 Scraps of p^lps, drew them towards the mouth, into which the sjiider put 

 _, . them. This is a common way of disiaosing of ragged bits and 



fragments of spinningwork, which no doubt yield some nour- 

 ishment that may again be transformed into webs. 



According to Mrs. Treat, the Turret spider is a neat housekeeper. She 

 leaves no debris in her cellar under the tower. The remains of insects 

 are thrown from the top in the same manner that she throws 

 Penalty excavated pellets. The Tiger spider, on the contrary, always 

 tidi ess l<^^ves the skeletons of insects in the bottom of its tube, which 

 in time makes a rich black mould. As the result of this, the 

 occupant is often driven from its room by a great mushroom starting from 

 the bottom of the burrow upward and completely demolishing it, forcing 

 the tenant to seek new quarters. Such a catastrophe never happens to the 

 neater tower builder. ^ 



The advantages of cleanliness are certainly thus remarkably illustrated, 

 and a sufficient reason given why, for the most part, spiders are careful to 

 carry from their dens and snares the debris of insects eaten by them. This 

 is not tlie universal rule, however, as other sjiecies besides Lycosa tigrina 

 will sometimes overspin the remains of their feasts, entirely covering over 

 with spinningwork the hard chitinous portions which are rejected. Nor 

 does this act always result in such a calamity as that above recorded. 



The Turret si)ider, after working upon her tower or in her burrow for 

 an hour or more, is apt to stop and assume her favorite position, seated 

 across the top of her tower, in order to make her toilet. First one leg 

 and then another is passed between the palps several times, and all the 

 while her mandibles are at work as if chewing, the moisture meanwhile 

 working up between them. 



• Home Studies in Nature. 



